The atmosphere behind the stage at the SEC Armadillo was one of calm confidence, with chief coach Vijay Sharma making last-minute technical adjustments and star weightlifter Mirabai Chanu, fresh from winning her third straight Commonwealth Games gold, offering encouragement from the athlete warm-up area. However, despite having experienced support around her, debutant Nirupama Devi Seram faced a difficult evening, ending India's unbeaten run in the weightlifting competition.
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Before Tuesday's women's 63kg final, the Indian weightlifting team had enjoyed a perfect record at the Games. Six events had produced six medals — Mirabai Chanu winning gold in the women's 48kg category, while Rishikanta Singh (men's 60kg), Raja Muthupandi (men's 65kg), Gyaneshwari Yadav (women's 53kg) and Valluri Ajaya Babu (men's 79kg) secured silver medals. Bindyarani Devi added a bronze in the women's 58kg event.
However, Nirupama's performance quickly went off track. The 25-year-old struggled to find consistency, successfully completing only one of her six attempts during a disappointing outing. After failing her first snatch attempt, she managed to lift 93kg on her second try. But further unsuccessful attempts at the same weight and a later 95kg attempt pushed her down to fifth place before the break.
With Nirupama outside the medal positions, the Indian team took a bold approach in the clean and jerk by opening at 123kg, just three kilograms below her personal best. The decision highlighted the fine margins of elite international competition.
Despite strong support from teammates in the stands, Nirupama was unable to complete the overhead phase. She successfully cleaned the bar in all three attempts but failed to secure the lift above her head each time. During her second attempt, she lost control while locking out, causing the bar to fall behind her, while her final attempt also ended without success due to insufficient power.
Recording a 'Did Not Finish' (DNF) and failing to register a total score, Nirupama watched as Canada's reigning Olympic champion Maude Charron claimed gold with a Games record total of 232kg. England's Sarah Davies Smale won silver, while Nauru's Femily-Crystie Notte took bronze.
Although Nirupama's result brought India's remarkable winning streak to an end, the team’s six-medal haul reflects their continued strength in weightlifting. Attention now shifts towards technical improvements as the remaining Indian lifters prepare for their upcoming events.
