Usha tops her 61kg group, Nirupama finishes disappointing fourth in Group C at World Weightlifting Championships

FILE PHOTO: B.N. Usha was placed third after her attempts across all competitors, with Group A lifters yet to register their attempts. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Usha topped Group D, while compatriot Nirupama Devi endured a disappointing outing to finish fourth in Group C of the women’s 61kg competition at the IWF World Weightlifting Championships in Ningbo on Sunday.

The 23-year-old Usha lifted a total of 212kg -- 93kg in snatch and 119kg in clean and jerk -- to finish ahead of all the lifters in her group and several competitors in the higher Group C as well.

Nirupama, who has moved down from the 63kg weight class, managed a total of 211kg (91kg+120kg), one kilogram short of Usha’s effort despite being placed in Group C owing to her higher entry total.

Following the completion of Groups C and D, Usha was placed third overall while Nirupama was fifth.

Their final standings will be updated after the completion of Group A.

Usha started with a successful 90kg snatch before failing to lift 93kg in her next attempt, but the Indian regained her composure to clear the same weight in her third and final snatch attempt. In the clean and jerk as well, Usha managed to complete two of her three attempts. After successfully lifting 115kg and 119kg, she faltered in her final attempt of 121kg.

On the other hand, Nirupama just managed to register a total after completing the minimum two successful lifts.

She started with a failed attempt at 91kg in snatch but managed to lift the weight in her second attempt before failing to clear 93kg in her third. In the clean and jerk, she lifted 120kg before failing in both attempts to heave 124kg.

Group A comprises lifters with the highest declared entry totals -- the combined weight they intend to lift in the snatch and clean and jerk -- while Groups B, C and D feature athletes with progressively lower entry totals.

The World Championships is one of six events in the first period of the Olympic qualification system for the 2028 Los Angeles Games.