CWG 2022: From tailoring to lifting weights, Achinta Sheuli scripts his own success story

The 20-year-old from West Bengal's Deulpur village in Howrah district twice bettered the Games record in both the snatch and clean & jerk and then finished with a record total lift of 313kg to make a memorable debut on the CWG stage. Achinta lifted an impressive 10kg more than his nearest rival, Malaysian Erry Hidayat Muhammad, to join his idol Mirabai Chanu (gold, women's 49kg) and his fellow teammate and a close friend, Jeremy Lalrinnunga (gold, men's 67kg), on top of the podium in Birmingham.

Achinta went on a record-breaking spree with his powerful lifts off the floor, which was complimented by his open chest stance and a classic arm extension, even as his opponents struggled to close in on the victory margin. He perfected the snatch round with lifts of 137kg, 140kg and 143kg, with his final two lifts shattering the previous Games record. In the process, he also equalled his personal best lift of 143kg, achieved during his gold-winning triumph at the Commonwealth senior championships in Tashkent in December last. The former junior world championships silver medallist headed into the clean & jerk round with a five kg advantage over his Malaysian rival and started the proceedings with another Games record lift of 166kg to put himself in the medal contention. By this time, Achinta had already secured the CWG record for lifting the total weight of 309kg (143kg+166kg). He went for an ambitious 170kg in his second attempt, but faltered in his bid. The Indian, however, came back strongly to raise the barbell to 170kg to create the Games record in overall lift (313kg).

Muhammad, who had a best lift of 138kg in snatch, and another 165kg in his first attempt in the clean & jerk, was left with no other choice but to go