Kathmandu, August 13

Sanju Chaudhary of Nepal Police Club shattered three national records on her way to winning gold medal in the third Sunil Lal Joshi Memorial National Weightlifting Championship here today.

Chaudhary, competing in the junior section of the 59kg weight category, lifted 71kg in snatch and 90kg in clean and jerk for a total of 161kg.

She not only broke national records in all three departments but also lifted 21kg more than Kamala Shrestha, who won gold in senior section with the total lift of 140kg that included 65kg in snatch and 75kg in clean and jerk.

Chaudhary shattered the previous records of 70kg (snatch), 80kg (clean and jerk) and 150kg (total) set by Tribhuvan Army Club lifter Shrestha during the eighth National Games held earlier this year in Nepalgunj. Jayakala Thapa Magar of Bardiya was a distant second in junior section with the lifts of 30kg in snatch and 40kg in clean and jerk for the total of 70kg.

Sangita Rai and Raj Laxmi Thapa of NPC also set three national records along with TAC’s Sarada Chaudhary. Rai bettered her own marks on her way to winning 49kg weight category gold medal in senior section. She lifted 59kg in snatch and 76kg in clean and jerk — one kilogramme more than the previous marks in each section — for a total of 135kg.

Sarita Kumari Yadav of Saptari came second with a total lift of 89kg, while Nanda Thapa Magar of Bardiya was third with 36kg. Pabitra Thapa Magar of Bardiya won the junior category gold medal with a total lift of 90kg — 40kg in snatch and 50kg in clean and jerk.

Another NPC lifter Thapa broke her own records in 71kg weight category. She lifted 66kg in snatch and 87kg in clean and jerk for the total lift of 153kg, to better the previous national records of 63kg, 81kg and 144kg. Her NPC teammate Janaki Buda came second with 133kg, while Pramila Chaudhary of Siraha was third with 72kg. Samjhana Kshetri of Banke won junior section gold medal with 70kg — 35kg each in snatch and clean and jerk sections.

TAC’s Sarada Chaudhary won 64kg weight category gold medal after she improved on her own previous marks by one kilogramme each in snatch and clean and jerk. She lifted 61kg in snatch and 83kg in clean and jerk for the total lift of 144kg.

Fellow TAC lifter Manisha Ranabhat came second with 127kg, while Junu Maya Chhantyal of NPC was third with 121kg. NPC’s Puja Kamal won junior section gold with a total lift of 105kg that included 50kg in snatch and 55kg in clean and jerk.

Likewise, TAC lifter Rita Gurung broke two national records on her way to winning the 45kg section gold medal with the total lift of 104kg that included 42kg in snatch and 62kg in clean and jerk. She improved on her previous mark of 50kg in clean and jerk and 95kg total.

Karina Chaudhary of Jhapa set new national record in snatch lifting 47kg but fell behind in clean and jerk before finishing second with the total of 103kg.

Chaudhary broke Gurung’s record of 42kg in snatch.

Hira Moti Tharu of Bardiya finished third with 75kg. Kajal Sada of Saptari won junior section gold medal with a total of 64kg.

A total of 120 players — 72 men and 48 women — from seven provinces and departmental teams are taking part in the two-day tournament organised by Nepal Weightlifting Association in memory of Olympian Sunil Lal Joshi. The tournament features 20 categories, while the strongest player in both categories will receive Rs 11,000 each. Earlier, Member Secretary of National Sports Council Ramesh Silwal inaugurated the championship.