New Delhi: India began its 2018 Commonwealth Games (CWG) campaign on Thursday with a gold and silver medal provided by its fancied weightlifters, while the shuttlers swept Pakistan and Sri Lanka 5-0 each to enter the quarterfinals of the badminton team event as the other highlight of the day.
Here are India's medal winners from Day 1:
Mirabai Chanu: The world champion smashed the Games' records in 48kg category snatch, clean and jerk and overall en route her gold-medal winning performance, which fetched her a thunderous applause from the Australian fans, who queued up to take her autograph after the medal ceremony.
Chanu managed to lift 196kg (86kg+110kg) in a remarkable effort.
"I was not expecting to break records but I certainly wanted to break them when I came here. I can't put in words, how it feels right now," an exhausted but jubilant Chanu said.
Gururaja Poojary: In the morning, Gururaja survived a few anxious moments after two failed attempts in clean and jerk to claim a silver medal in men's 56kg division. The 25-year-old son of a truck driver equalled his personal best of 249kg (111kg+138kg) to finish second in the event and ensure that India woke up to the news of a medal on the very first day of competitions.
"After I failed the first two attempts, my coach reminded me how much my life depends on this. I remembered my family and my country," he said when asked what went through his mind in those nervy moments.
(With PTI Inputs)
