Flag bearer of the Sri Lankan contingent at the Gold Coast Commonwealth games, weightlifter Chinthana Vidanage was placed 5th in the Men’s 77Kg Weight category today(7th).
An experienced Commonwealth campaigner, Vidanage won Gold in the 62kg weight category in the 2006 edition in Melbourne and followed it up with a Silver on the 69kg weight category at the 2010 Commonwealth games which was held in India. Despite missing out on a medal in the Gold Coast games, competing in three different weight categories, at three Commonwealth games he participated In, is a remarkable achievement by itself. The experienced athlete has truly been the flag bearer for weightlifting in the country.
Vidanage Snatched 132Kg and lifted 166Kg in the ‘Clean and Jerk’ clearing an overall weight of 298kg. Having cleared 166kg in his first attempt in the ‘Clean and Jerk’ both his attempts of lifting 168kg were futile forcing him to be satisfied with a 5th place finish. Indian Sathish Kumar Sivalongam won Gold lifting a commanding weight of 317kg in total, Englishmen Jack Oliver (312Kg) and Australian Francois Etoundi (305kg) won Silver and Bronze respectively.
Two Sri Lankan weightlifters, Shanaka Peters (Men’s 94Kg) and Priyanthi Balage (Women’s 75Kg) are set to take the Carra Sports Arena tommorow (8th) while Saman Abeywickrama (Men’s 105+ Kg) will be the last Sri Lankan lifter to compete at the Games on Monday (9th).
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