Xtra Time Web Desk: India’s Deepak Punia defeated Pakistan’s Muhammad Inam 3-0 in the final of weightlifting 86 Kg category of Commonwealth Games 2022 to win gold on Friday. This was the third gold for India from wrestling after Bajrang Punia (men’s 65kg) and Sakshi Malik (women’s 62kg) won a gold medal as well. It was Punia’s first medal at the Commonwealth Games, as he takes India’s overall medal tally to 24. Additionally, this is India’s 9th gold medal in the ongoing edition of the Games. Anshu Malik had to be contended with a silver in women’s freestyle 57 kg category.
Inam, who was also the defending champion in the category, was far from his best throughout the final bout against Punia as he was booked for passivity early before the Indian successfully pushed his opponent out of the ring to take a 2-0 lead. Both wrestlers were largely defensive in the bout but Inam did make a last effort to make a comeback despite clearly gasping for breath, only for Punia to easily thwart the same and get on top of him.
India has now won 9 golds, 8 silvers and 9 bronze to climb to 5th spot in the medals tally.