CWG 2018: Deepak Lather becomes youngest Indian weightlifter to win medal

Teenager Deepak Lather on Friday became the youngest Indian weightlifter to clinch a Commonwealth Games medal. He bagged bronze medal in the men's 69 kg category at the Gold Coast Games.

The 18-year-old lifted a combined weight of 295 kg, which includes 136kg in snatch and 159 kg in Clean and Jerk.

The closest competitor to Deepak was Samoa’s Vaipava Loane who fouled his last two lifts and finished with a total of 292 kg.

Lather, not only holds the record of being the youngest Indian weightlifter in Commonwealth Games but also holds the distinction of being the youngest to hold the national record as well.

He also held a national record in 62 kg category at the age of 15 years.

He was trained at the Army Sports Institute as a diver before being encouraged into weightlifting by his coaches.

Earlier, Mirabai Chanu (48 kg) and Sanjita Chanu (53 kg) won gold medals in the women's competition and P Gururaja claimed a silver in the men's 56 kg category.

The Indian weightlifters have so far claimed four medals in the event.