CWG 2022: My father said 'gold se kismat badalti hai, par mein khush hoon'; don't want him to run 'paan' shop anymore, says silver medallist Sanket Sargar

'Papa ko gold ka promise kiya tha, silver aaya, par wo khush hain' (I had promised my father a gold medal but he is happy with the silver I won), Indian weightlifter Sanket Sargar told TimesofIndia.com from Birmingham after he opened the country's medal count at the Commonwealth Games by claiming a silver in the men's 55kg category. There was a distinct look of dejection on Sanket's face while attending the medal ceremony with his right elbow in a sling. He was recalling the promise he had made to his father Mahadev Ananda Sargar who runs a 'paan' and tea shop in Sangli, Maharashtra. "I hope this medal will change my family's fortunes. I don't want my father to run a 'paan' shop anymore," Sanket told TimesofIndia.com barely a few hours after clinching the silver medal on Saturday.

Read AlsoCWG 2022: 'Paristhiti achhi nahi, thoda koshish karo' - Silver medallist Sanket Sargar lives up to expectations of his father, who runs a paan shop

It was difficult for Sanket Mahadev Sargar to look beyond weightlifters in Sangli, whenever he held his grandfather's hand and walked with him to the Digvijay Vyayamshala. Watching his seniors lift, Sanket couldn't control the lure for that bar with weights at both ends. On Saturday, the 21-year-old

Sanket's father Mahadev Ananda Sargar at his paan shop. (Credit: TOI Special Arrangement)The 21-year-old looked well on course to winning the gold, but two failed clean and jerk attempts, because of a tragic elbow injury, denied him the top honour. He lifted a total of 248kg (113kg+135kg) to finish second in the event. "After the silver medal win, I spoke to my father and mother. My father said ' gold aata to achha rehta par mei khush hoon' (The gold would have been good but I am happy). He said