Vikas Thakur gets silver in Glasgow CWG

Glasgow: Weightlifter Vikas Thakur showed tremendous grit as he fought back in pain to clinch a silver medal while three boxers inched closer to a medal by advancing to the quarterfinals of the 20th Commonwealth Games here.

In the ring, Vijender Singh (75kg), Mandeep Jangra (69kg) and L Devendro Singh (49kg) entered the quarterfinals.

Vijender, a former Olympic and World Championships bronze-medallist, outpunched Namibia’s Mujandjae Kasuto 3-0 in a lopsided contest to make the last-eight stage.

Mandeep, on the other hand, was equally dominant in his 3-0 triumph over Jamaica’s Kestna Davis in a late night contest.

Asian Championships silver-medallist Devendro made the last eight after notching up a tough 2-1 victory over Sri Lanka’s Madushan Gamage.

With the addition of four more medals, India’s overall haul swelled to 25 with seven gold medals, 12 silver medals and seven bronze and the country was placed fourth in the standings.

Australia were at the top followed by England and hosts Scotland.

In weightlifting, Thakur was trailing at third with a lift of 150kg after completion of snatch though the gap with the leaders – Patterson and Plamondon – was just one kilogram.

The Indian began with 142kg and then went onto lift 147kg and 150kg in his next two attempts. Patterson, the favourite and last year’s Commonwealth Championships winner, began with 147kg and lifted 151kg in his second attempt. He went for 154kg in his third attempt but failed to lift it.

The 20-year-old Thakur had finished second in the Commonwealth Championships. In clean and jerk, Thakur went for 179kg in his first attempt, but could not lift it.

However, he was successful in his second attempt to jump to the top spot.