CWG 2022: Journey to Paris Olympics has begun; Mirabai Chanu didi's support has been immense, says 'golden' boy Jeremy Lalrinnunga

Three years after his Youth Olympic gold medal win, in 2021, when the Mizoram lad went to Commonwealth Championships, he clinched another gold in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Jeremy knew his next big assignment would be the Birmingham edition of the Commonwealth Games. He also changed his phone wallpaper to a CWG gold. Whenever he looked at his phone, the picture of the medal inspired the youngster.

(The CWG gold is Jeremy's biggest senior-level achievement - PTI Photo)On Sunday, Jeremy had to endure massive pain in his elbow en route to turning his golden dream into reality at his maiden Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. The 19-year-old stamped his domination in the men's 67kg competition with a total lift of 300kg (140kg+160kg). He finished ahead of Samoa's Vaipava Nevo Ioane, who managed a total of 293kg (127kg +166kg). "Abb bass Paris Olympics target hai (My main target is the Paris Olympics now). I am confident that I will win a gold medal at the senior Olympics. The journey to the Paris Olympics has begun," Jeremy told TimesofIndia.com in an interview from Birmingham. He was battling muscle cramps in his first two attempts. In his third attempt in the Snatch round, he failed to lift 165kg, picking up a painful elbow niggle in the process.

(Jeremy hurt his elbow on his third clean & jerk attempt - PTI Photo)"I didn't follow the other lifters. I was almost crying in pain (due to the elbow pain after a failed attempt). The pain was just too much. I was down on the floor and slowly asked my coach Vijay sir if I had won the gold medal. I was in tears. He said we have won a gold medal and he smiled. I smiled and closed my eyes. His words almost took the pain away completely. When I finally stood up, I hugged him," an