Weightlifter Dilanka elated after securing Bronze in Birmingham

Weightlifter Dilanka Isuru Kumara yesterday said that he is proud to have won Sri Lanka’s first medal at the 22nd Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England.

Kumara produced a fine performance to secure the Bronze Medal in the 55kg weight class as he lifted 105kg in the snatch category and 120kg in the clean and jerk category to finish in third place with an aggregate total of 225kg.

“I am really delighted and proud to become the first Sri Lankan to win a medal at the Commonwealth Games,” Kumara told Daily Mirror soon after his excellent performance.

“My goal was to win a medal for the country, and I was not much concerned whether it is Gold, Silver or a Bronze,” Kumara stressed.         

Meanwhile, Mohamed Aniq of Malaysia bagged the Gold Medal with a total of 249kg while India’s Sargar Sanket clinched the Silver Medal with a tally of 248kg.

Meanwhile, medal prospect Srimali Samarakoon had to settle for the seventh place in the Women’s 49kg weight class event while Thilanka Palagasinghe failed to complete his Men’s 61kg weight class event. Susil Premalal reporting from Birmingham