Jeremy Lalrinnunga won gold medal in 62kg weightlifting. (Source: IOAIndia/Twitter) Jeremy Lalrinnunga won gold medal in 62kg weightlifting. (Source: IOAIndia/Twitter)

India had already eclipsed its best-ever tally at a Youth Olympic Games on Day 2 of the extravaganza and by the end of it, had further return to rejoice. Having won three silver medals, India won their first gold medal at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina with Jeremy Lalrinnunga lifting 150kg on his last attempt for a combined 274kg. This is India’s first-ever gold medal at the Youth Olympics. In the two editions prior to this, India’s best performance was two medals in the 2014 Youth Olympics at Nanjing, China.

In Men’s 62kg Group A weightlifting, Jeremy posted successful attempts of 120kg and 124kg in snatch and 142kg and 150kg in clean & jerk. With his best successful attempts of 124kg in snatch and 150kg in clean & jerk for a combined 274kg, the 15-year-old won the gold medal. Toptas Caner of Turkey won the silver medal for a combined lift of 263kg and Estiven Jose Manjarres of Colombia won the bronze medal with 260kg.

The gold further highlights Lalrinnunga’s mettle following his World Youth silver medal. Earlier this year, Lalrinnunga claimed a silver (youth) and a bronze (junior) in the Asian Championships, while breaking two national records.

India had won three silver medals earlier with Tushar Mane (10m Air Rifle), Tababi Devi (44kg Judo) and Mehuli Ghosh (10m Air Rifle).

While Lalrinnunga bagged a gold medal, weightlifter Sneha Soren could not finish on the podium in the women’s 48kg category, signing off fifth. In swimming, Srihari Nataraj, who competed in the 100m backstroke final despite being a reserve, could only manage a sixth position.

In other events, Archana Kamath and Manav Thakkar, India’s representatives in table tennis, won their singles matches of the group stage.

Kamath beat Malaysia’s Javen Choong 4-2 while Thakkar defeated Slovakia’s Aleksandra Vovk 4-1.

It was a big win for India in hockey as the team thrashed Austria 9-1.

Rising badminton sensation Lakshya Sen had it tough against Danylo Bosniuk in the first game before he regained his composure to beat the Ukrainian 23-21, 21-8.

India are represented by 46 athletes – their largest contingent – at the third Youth Olympic Games across 13 disciplines.

(With PTI inputs)

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