Young lifter Sanket Sargara partially fulfilling a promise he made to himself four years ago won silver medal In the men’s 55 kg category, putting India Commonwealth Games medal tally on Saturday
Sanket Sargar had his eyes set on gold, but while trying to lift 139kg in clean and jerk, he injured his right elbow and eventually came second.
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The 21-year-old managed a total of 248 kg (113 kg + 135 kg) and was just one kg behind Malaysia’s Mohamed Anik, who lifted 249 kg (107 kg + 142 kg), breaking the Games record in the clean and jerk. Won gold medal.
Sri Lanka’s Dilanka Isuru Kumara 225kg (105kg+120kg) won the bronze medal.
Sanket was managing a paan shop in Sangli, Maharashtra in 2018 with his father, who shares his name.
“Some may be ashamed that they had to work in a tapri, In the past, my clients who knew I was a lifter would ask why I was working there. But it is part of who I am. The only thing is that earlier people knew it as Sanket Paan Tapri. Now he should know it as Sanket Pan Tapri, a Commonwealth Games medalist.
He even used the time he spent at the shop to his betterment, as he admitted that there were also learnings.
“I learned how to manage both of them. Sport is important, but you also have to learn how to live. That job helped me a lot. It helped me know how to present myself and talk to people. It also taught me how to deal with stress and control my emotions. We don’t have just one or two people coming. Sometimes, you get 300 customers every day. Before they start getting impatient, you need to understand how to deal with and serve them. You have to learn to keep track of payments and bills. It teaches you how to manage different things at the same time. Above all, you have to learn how to remain calm in these circumstances,” he said.
Life has faced challenges before him and he accepted them with grace and found a way to overcome them with dedication.
“There was no error during the lift. I felt a sudden load on my right elbow, so I could not control it and I heard two clicks,” Sargar said in the mixed zone.
“In training, I lift 143kg. I had to go for it because there was a gold at stake. I am not happy with myself as I have been training only for Gold for the last four years.
“I’m a little happy but mostly I think I could have done better. I didn’t risk going beyond my national record because completing the lift is also important.”
Sargar said he had to risk lifting 139kg because “gold was on offer”.
“Before the last lift, sir (coach Vijay Sharma) asked me if I wanted to move on. He tried to stop me at first but later encouraged me. I lift more than that in practice.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Congratulations to the young athlete,
“Extraordinary effort by Sanket Sargar! His winning the coveted silver medal is a great start for India at the Commonwealth Games. Congratulations to him and best wishes for all future endeavours,” Modi tweeted.
The lifter said he would undergo a scan to know the extent of his injury.
“After the dope samples are collected I will go for X-rays and the actual situation will be known. Presently I am in a lot of pain, please let me go soon,” he pleaded with the Indian scribes.
Sargar, who became the second Commonwealth medalist from Sangli after wrestler Bharti Mane, said, “I want to dedicate this medal to all the freedom fighters who did not care for their lives and gave us freedom.”
“Yes, people will be happy to be back home but I am disappointed to have lost the gold medal. Hope to come back stronger.”
(with inputs from agencies)
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