Weightlifter Sanket Mahadev Sargar on Saturday bagged India’s first medal in the ongoing Birmingham Commonwealth Games (CWG) winning the silver medal in the 55 kilogram category.
The 21-year-old lifted a total of 258 kilograms; 113 in the snatch and 135 in the clean and jerk.
Sargar had told The Indian Express that he dreamed of winning a CWG medal after witnessing Gururaja Poojary’s silver medal-winning campaign in the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in 2018.
Sanket’s proud father, Mahadev Sargar, who owns a tea stall, took half a day off to celebrate saying, “I can afford to take a one hour break from work.”
In the month of June, Sanket’s younger sister Kajol Sargar had won the gold medal in the 4th Khelo India Youth Games, becoming the first gold medalist of the sporting event.
“When Kajol returned with the medal, we displayed the medal first at the tea-stall. That’s what has provided all the things for our family till date and Sanket’s medal too will be displayed on the tea-stall first,” Mahadev said.
Before joining National Weightlifting Camp in Patiala last year, Sanket used to help out in running the family-owned tea stall in Sangli, Maharashtra. He also managed to find time to train and attend college.
