The Hindu : Sport / Olympic Games : Sad end to Malleswari's campaign

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Aug 19, 2004

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Sport - Olympic Games

Sad end to Malleswari's campaign

By S. Thyagarajan

WHAT WENT WRONG? It was a major disappointment for Malleswari as the weightlifter's hopes were dashed by a back injury. -- Photo: Vino John

ATHENS, AUG. 18. In a shocking display, India's medal hope in women's weightlifting, Karnam Malleswari, did not finish even her first lift in snatch and went out of the 63kg competition here this evening leaving her supporters in a daze.

Attempting to start at 100 kg Malleswari stayed on the stage less than a minute. She gripped the bar, lifted it for about six inches but then winced in pain and dropped. It looked as though Malleswari had hurt her back in that effort but there was no one around to confirm. She was not ready for a second chance. The scoreboard flashed DNF (did not finish) sign cofirming the worst fears. The 29-year old Malleswari, the oldest in the nine-member group, was the only Indian medallist at Sydney last year.

Malleswari was not exactly in good form at the last World championships in Vancouver, went through a knee surgery, and very confused about her weight category.

Before Athens, she trained in Belarus with her coach, Leonid Tarenenko, who looked aghast when the TV cameras focussed on him as Malleswari failed with the lift.

Her bronze at Sydney came in the 69 kg. But here she had reduced her weight so as to take a chance in the 63 kg (her body weight today was 62.83 kg) for a silver or gold. But that dream was shattered.

It is gathered that Malleswari is being taken to the hospital for an x-ray. None of the Indian officials, least of all the coach, was willing to share anything with the waiting media at the mixed zone.

To add to the confusion the officials left from a different exit.

Even more mysterious was the absence of Pratima Kumari whose name was entered for the same event. She had not made her presence here today, reportedly not fit for the competition.

Skakun lifts gold

Nataliya Skakun of Ukraine picked up the gold with a total of 242.5 kg (snatch 107.5 kg clean and jerk-135 kg), followed by Hanna Batsiushka of Belarus (242.5 kg), and Tatsiana Stukalava of Ukraine with 222.5 kg. Natalia was placed higher owing to lesser number of attempts than by Hanna.

There were two new records for the event. 115.0 kg by Hanna Batsiukha in snatch and a 135 kg by Natalia Shakun in clean and jerk.

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