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From Issue 31 – Commonwealth Results - Men's 105 kg

CHEEMA DENIED WEIGHTLIFTING MEDAL

England's Gurbinder Cheema cruelly missed out on a weightlifting medal.  Cheema lifted the same total amount as Malaysia's Che Che Mat but lost out as he went into the 105kg event with a higher body weight than his opponent.

Cheema was in first place after the snatch with a lift of 152kg but he could only manage 178kg in the clean and jerk, twice failing at 182kg.

"I'm disappointed to say the least," he said. "I wanted a medal here and should have had one but that's how it goes."  Cheema weighed 104.77kg at the start of the tournament compared with Mat's 104.13kg.    

He added: "With the injuries I've had in the last six to 12 months, I've done well just to get here. But you've got to set yourself high standards and the fact I didn't get a medal is very disappointing. I've got something to build on now."

Cheema won bronze in the 105kg at the Manchester Games    

Gold went to Akos Sandor of Canada, while Valeriane Sarava (Australia) took silver.

IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER

A young Cook Islander upstaged his father at the Men's Weightlifting 105kg event in the Melbourne Exhibition Centre.

In his first Commonwealth Games appearance, 17-year-old Sam Pera Jr surpassed his father's expectations - and out-lifted him by 12kg.

It was the first time that a father and son have competed in the same Weightlifting event at a Commonwealth Games.

"I came into this competition to beat my Dad," said an ecstatic Pera Jr. "And I did that. Before I left home, Mum said she'd prefer me to win, but she also said that Dad had more experience."
 
As always, Mum knows best.

Sam Pera Sr, 36, finished fourth at the 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games and 15th at the 2004 Athens Olympics, but the five-time Cook Island Sportsman of the Year joked that "it's getting too hard for an old man". 

Pera Jr lifted 132kg in the Snatch to take an early lead. The youngster was composed on the podium, but later admitted to feeling "pretty nervous". Pera Jr then lifted 161kg in the Clean and Jerk to finish with a personal best of 293kg.

A gracious Pera Jr said afterwards that he planned to return to training for the World Junior Championships, and set himself for the next Commonwealth Games in Delhi.

"I've still got a long way to go," he said, "but I'm still young. Maybe I will be World Champion one day." Pera Sr's eyes lit up at the prospect. "And I'll be his coach."

Maybe father knows best too.

Men's 105 kg results