Komal Kohar ended a three-year medal drought for India at the Asian Weightlifting Championships by clinching two bronze medals in the women’s 48kg category on Monday in Gandhinagar.
Komal Kohar (Photo credit: Screengrab/Prasar Bharati)
The young lifter was called up to the Indian team after Tokyo 2020 Olympic medallist Mirabai Chanu withdrew, and she seized the opportunity with an impressive performance. Kohar lifted a total of 177kg across two events to reach the podium, also taking bronze in the clean and jerk with a best lift of 99kg. In the snatch, her top attempt of 78kg placed her fourth.
Kohar began her campaign by successfully lifting 75kg in the snatch, missed at 78kg, then succeeded on her third attempt. In the clean and jerk, she opened with 94kg, improved to 99kg for the bronze, and attempted 101kg before failing. Her winning total of 177kg was five kilograms shy of her personal best of 182kg, set at the National Championships in Modinanagar earlier this year.
This marks India’s first medal at the continental championships in three years, a milestone that underscores the country’s growing depth in weightlifting.
