The 19-year-old Indian weightlifter Jeremy Lalrinnunga brought India’s second gold medal in the Commonwealth Games 2022 (Birmingham 2022).
In the men’s 67 kg final of CWG 2022 weightlifting, Lalrinnunga finished with a total of 300 kg (140 kg + 160 kg). He managed to hold the CWG record in the snatch category and the total of men’s 67 kg.
Lalrinnunga successfully lifted 135 kg and 140 kg in the snatch category before he had an unsuccessful attempt for 143 kg. He finished the snatch category with 10 points ahead of the second-positioned Nigerian Edidiong Joseph Umoafia (130 kg).
Lalrinnunga started the clean & jerk with 154 kg, where he was successful despite cramps in his lower back. He then successfully lifted 160 kg despite struggling with cramps. Struggling Lalrinnunga failed in the third attempt with 165 kg, where he suffered a left elbow injury.
Already confirming his silver, the young Indian weightlifter had to wait for the 34-year-old Samoan Vaipava Nevo Ioane’s performance. While the experienced Vaipava managed to lift 127 kg in snatch, his final clean & jerk attempt was for 174 kg, which could give him the gold medal on a successful attempt as he would finish with 301 kg. But Vaipava had an unsuccessful attempt at that point as he had to finish with 293 kg (127 kg + 166 kg) and the silver medal.
So, Lalrinnunga won the CWG 2022 gold medal at the age of just 19 years.
Nigerian Edidiong Joseph Umoafia finished the campaign with the bronze medal after lifting a total of 290 kg (130 kg + 160 kg).
Who is Jeremy Lalrinnunga?
Jeremy Lalrinnunga was born on 26th October 2002. His father was a well-known passionate boxer in Aizawl, Mizoram, who won several medals at the national level. Due to financial issues in the family, the senior Lalrinnunga had to take the Power Works Department (PWD) job.
Without any doubt, Jeremy learnt boxing at an early age, thanks to his father. During his boxing, little Jeremy became excited to lift the weights after watching boys training at a gym close to his house.
The 10-year-old weightlifter Jeremy also went to Army Sports Institute (ASI) in Pune to train.
Jeremy’s first professional tournament was Junior Nationals competition in 2016, where he won the gold medal by creating a national record.
Jeremy won several medals in top global tournaments like IMF Youth World Championships 2016 (silver), Asian Youth Championships 2016 (silver), IMF Youth World Champions 2017 (silver), Commonwealth Youth Championships 2017 (gold), Asian Youth Championships 2018 (silver), Asian Junior Championships 2018 (bronze), Summer Youth Olympics 2018 (gold), Asian Junior Championships 2019 (silver), Asian Youth Championships (gold) and Commonwealth Senior Championships 2021 (gold) etc.
Created history in Summer Youth Olympics
Jeremy Lalrinnunga created history for the nation in the 2018 Summer Youth Olympics when the weightlifter became the first Indian to win a gold medal in Youth Olympics history. He won that gold medal in Boy’s 62 kg event. In the 2018 Summer Youth Olympics, Lalrinnunga was the closing ceremony flag bearer.
