India’s Sudhir claimed the gold medal in men’s heavyweight para powerlifting event at the Commonwealth Games on Thursday.

Sudhir, an Asian Para Games bronze medallist, lifted 208kg in his first attempt before increasing it to 212kg in his second effort to gather 134.5 points and break the Games record.

The 27-year-old Sudhir, who has a polio-induced impairment, thus opened India’s para sports medal account in the ongoing Games.

Ikechukwu Christian Obichukwu won the silver with 133.6 points, while Micky Yule bagged the bronze with 130.9 points.

Sudhir had won a bronze in men’s upto 88kg with a best lift of 214kg at the World Para Powerlifting Asia-Oceania Open Championship in South Korea in June.

He had started powerlifting in 2013 in Sonipat, Haryana, and has also qualified for the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Para Games, which have been postponed to next year.

Bhavina in final

India’s Bhavina Patel cruised to the women’s singles class 3-5 para table tennis final and assured herself of a medal at the Commonwealth Games here on Friday.

The Tokyo Paralympics silver medallist thrashed England’s Sue Bailey 11-6, 11-6, 11-6 to book a final date with Nigeria’s Christiana Ikpeoyi on Saturday.

Another Indian, Sonalben Patel, went down to Ikpeoyi 11-8, 6-11, 4-11, 7-11. She will now face Bailey in the bronze medal match.

Raj Aravindan Alagar also lost 11-7, 8-11, 4-11, 7-11 to Nigeria’s Nasiru Sule in the men’s 3-5 class semi-final. He will face Nigerian Isau Ogunkunle in the bronze medal play-off.