Bindyrani Devi, a weightlifter who won a bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games, secured another bronze at the IWF World Cup. She competed in the women’s 55kg event, lifting a total of 196kg to claim third place.
However, it wasn’t her best performance. She managed only three successful lifts out of six attempts. Her total lift was 38kg less than the gold medallist from North Korea, Kang Hyon Gyong, who lifted 234kg.
Romania’s Cambei Mihaela-Valentina took silver with a lift of 201kg. Bindyrani also won silver in the clean and jerk category for lifting 113kg. In weightlifting competitions like this, medals are given separately for snatch, clean and jerk, and total lift.
Despite her success, Bindyrani won’t be competing in the Paris Olympics. She moved up to the 59kg category but didn’t perform well at the world championships, finishing 25th. So, she switched back to the 55kg class where she previously won medals.
Unfortunately, Bindyrani is ranked 29th in the Olympic Qualification Ranking for the 59kg category. Only the top 10 lifters in each category qualify for the Olympics. Therefore, she’s out of contention for the Paris Games.
Bindyrani’s journey shows the challenges faced by athletes in qualifying for major events. Even with past success, changes in weight categories and rankings can impact their chances. Despite this setback, Bindyrani’s dedication to her sport and her achievements at international competitions like the Commonwealth Games and the IWF World Cup are commendable.