New Delhi: It was a story of resilience, courage and heartbreak for Martina Devi Maibam, who made her Commonwealth Games debut on Thursday with a thrilling fifth place finish in the women’s 86kg weightlifting competition.The 20-year-old Manipur weightlifter was within striking distance of a medal after recovering from the brink of elimination, finishing with a total lift of 245kg (105kg snatch + 140kg clean and jerk).Martina’s overall score was equal to New Zealand’s Tui-Alofa Patolo, but missed out on fourth place due to more failed attempts.Two-time Olympic medalist Emily Campbell of England successfully defended her Commonwealth Games title with a stunning performance. Campbell lifted 278kg (115kg + 163kg) and set new Commonwealth and Olympic records in the clean and jerk. Malaysia’s Siti Akira Farhana Dramman won the silver medal in the 253kg category, while Canada’s Etta Mae Love won the bronze medal in the 250kg category.
A stunning comeback under pressure
Martina’s campaign was almost over before it really began. In the 103kg category, she failed in her first two snatch attempts and was just one step away from elimination.In a bold tactical move, head coach Vijay Sharma opted to increase the weight to 105kg instead of repeating 103kg in the final attempt. The gamble was inspired by Martina’s perfect lift, keeping her medal hopes alive in dramatic fashion.The emotional release was palpable as the young man walked off the stage in tears after experiencing his biggest fear of the game.She carried that momentum into the clean and jerk, easily lifting 140kg on her first attempt, a lift that topped her previous personal best of 136kg and briefly pushed her into medal contention.However, with the podium looming, Martina needed a bigger boost to stay in the race. Her second attempt at 144kg failed, and her last attempt at 146kg failed to complete the lift.The misstep brought an emotional end to her campaign, and she left the podium in tears for a second time.Although she missed out on a medal, Martina’s fightback from two early defeats showed her immense potential.
