PM Modi hails weightlifters Sanjita Chanu, Deepak Lather for CWG heroics

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday heaped praises on weightlifters Sanjita Chanu and Deepak Lather after the two made the country proud by clinching gold and bronze, respectively, at the ongoing 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia.

On the second day of the Games, Sanjita handed India its second gold medal by outshining in the women's 53 kg category event.

Taking to Twitter, Prime Minister Modi congratulated Chanu for picking up gold before adding that the entire nation was overjoyed by his exemplary performance.

"A second Gold for India! Congratulations to K Sanjita Chanu on winning the Gold Medal in the Women's 53 kg weightlifting event. The nation is overjoyed by this exemplary performance," he tweeted.

Prime Minister Modi then extended his greetings to Lather, who bagged a bronze medal in the men's 69 kg category.

He wrote, "Our weightlifters are in superb form! My young friend Deepak Lather wins a Bronze in the Men's 69 kg category. Congratulations to this youngster and all the best for his future endeavours."

Meanwhile, President Ram Nath Kovind also congratulated Lather for handing India its fourth medal at the Commonwealth Games.

"Fourth Medal for India at #GC2018. Congratulations to Deepak Lather for winning a Bronze in Weightlifting (Men's, 69 Kg Category) #PresidentKovind," President Kovind tweeted.

Sanjita set a new record in the game by lifting a total of 192 kgs, which includes 84 kgs in Snatch and 108 kgs in the Clean and Jerk.

Her gold came a day after her Manipuri teammate Saikhom Mirabai Chanu bagged the country's first gold in the women's weightlifting 48 kg category event.

Thereafter, 18-year-old Deepak lifted a combined weight of 295kg (136kg in snatch and 159kg in Clean and Jerk).

With this, he became the youngest Indian weightlifter to claim a Commonwealth Games medal.

India are currently placed third in the Games after England and Australia, having clinched four medals in total including two gold.