The Hindu : Alabi pips Sateesha to gold

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Oct 28, 2003

Sport

Sport - Afro-Asian Games

Alabi pips Sateesha to gold

By Our Special Correspondent

Hyderabad Oct. 27. Dare Alabi of Nigeria clinched the gold in the men's 77kg category in the weightlifting championships of the first Afro-Asian Games when he pipped India's Sateesha Rai on bodyweight after both lifters had posted an identical total of 322.5kg on the third day of the competition at the Yousufguda indoor stadium here on Monday.

Sateesha Rai's body weight of 76kg was a trifle heavier than Dare Alabi's weight of 75.25kg. The bronze went to Ali Eshtiwi Mohammed of Libya.

In the women's 53kg competition, China's Lu Meiqin took the gold after an impressive display of power and technique in posting a total of 200kg, which was far ahead of second-placed Sonia Chanu of India (177.5kg). Third was Patience Laval of Nigeria, who totalled 167.5kg.

The men's competition saw a good battle between 26-year-old Dare Alabi and the experienced Indian lifter Sateesha Rai. In the snatch event, Dare Alabi started with 132.5kg and then lifted 137.5kg but failed to lift 140kg. Rai began with 137.5 and then also cleared 142.5kg and 145kg to end up with the top spot.

But in the clean and jerk section, Alabi was in his elements. He began with 175kg then hoisted 180kg and finally signed off with a successful lift of 185kg. In comparison, Rai began with 172.5kg and then lifted 177.5 but could not take his third lift due to injury.

The results: Men: 77kg: 1. Dare Alabi (Ngr) 137.5kg + 185kg = 322.5kg; 2. Sateesha Rai (Ind) 145kg + 177.5kg = 322.5kg; 3. Ali Eshtiwi Mohammed (Lib) 135kg + 167.5kg = 302.5kg.

Women: 53kg: 1. Lu Meiqin (Chn) 85kg + 115kg = 200kg. 2. Sonia Chanu (Ind) 77.5kg + 100kg = 177.5kg; 3. Patience Laval (Ngr) 72.5kg + 95kg = 167.5kg.

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