Rakhi Halder Wins Bronze at Qatar International Cup, Shatters Two National Records

Indian women’s weightlifter Rakhi Halder clinched a bronze medal in the women’s 64kg weight category at the Qatar International Cup. The Commonwealth Championship champions also created two new national records on her road to the bronze medal.

Rakhi improved her own best in snatch and overall weight. She heaved a total of 218 kg with 95 kg in snatch and 123 kg in clean and jerk. In the Commonwealth Championship, Rakhi had won the yellow medal by lifting 214 kg (94 kg in snatch and 120 kg in clean and jerk).

Indian contingent finished their campaign at the silver level Olympic qualifying event with a total of three medals. Former world champion Meerabai Chanu won the gold on the opening day while the young Jeremy Lalrinnunga took the silver medal with a power packed performance.

The points of this tournament will be very important when preparing the cut for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Unfortunately, Ajay Singh, who was selected to participate in the silver level Olympic qualifier event, had to miss the tournament as he was not allowed to to board the flight due to a torn passport. He had to return back from the Indira Gandhi Airport. On Sunday, he was scheduled to play in this tournament in the 81 kg weight category.

There is no Olympic qualifier tournament left in the Federation’s annual calendar approved by the Sports Ministry. However there is an Olympic qualifier tournament in Tashkent in February. If approved by the ministry, Ajay can play alone there; otherwise he will have to participate at his own expense.

To qualify for the Olympics, a weightlifter must participate in at least one event in each of the three six-month periods (spread over November 2018 to April 2020) and a total of six events. Along with this, the player has to participate in at least one gold and one other silver level event.