UP lifter Purnima Pandey battles wrist injury to clinch second successive National Games gold

Pandey lifted a total of 222 kg (100kg in snatch and 122 kg in clean and jerk) to win her second successive gold medal in the national sports event at the Campal Games Village, according to a press release by the National Games.

The Uttar Pradesh lifter attempted to improve on her own national record of 105 kg in snatch in her third attempt but lost her balance and almost twisted her ankle.

She has also been battling a wrist injury for quite some time and will require surgery. Despite that she went for 129 kg in clean and jerk, attempting another record. But it was not to be.

When asked why she pushed herself to lift higher weight knowing well that the gold was assured and she could aggravate her injury, Pandey said, "As a player, it's quite difficult to hold yourself back after coming this close."

The drop in ranking due to the injury in the past year was another factor for Pandey, who wanted to prove a point to herself and her competitors that she was still one of the best in the national circuit.

On Sunday, she pipped Kerala's Ann Mariya for the second straight time in the National Games and the satisfaction was quite visible on her face.

"I needed to prove a point after the drop in my ranking and I am happy with the way I performed today," she added.

Given the way the weightlifting season in India is and the competition for the national squad, players tend to play with niggles and injuries as the financial support from the government and sponsors depends on their performance.

Pandey is therefore clear that she will have to delay her surgery till after the senior nationals in January. "Senior Nationals is the most important event for us. I am working closely with the coach on injury management and rehabilitation and I am confident that I can win the gold there as well," she concluded. (ANI)