India’s medal count at the Commonwealth Games continued to rise with Lovepreet Singh winning a bronze in the men’s 109kg here on Wednesday. The 24-year-old son of a tailor from Amritsar lifted a personal best of 355kg, including a new national record of 192kg in clean and jerk, to finish third on the podium.

Lovepreet improved from 157kg to 163kg in his final attempt of snatch to be joint second with Canadian Pierre-Alexandre Bessette. However, in the clean and jerk he slipped to third position. “I could not have been happier. This was my first big competition at the international stage and I produced my best-ever show to return with a medal,” said the former Commonwealth junior champion. Junior Nyabeyeu of Cameroon claimed the gold with a total lift of 361kg, while Jack Opeloge of Samoa bagged the silver by lifting 358kg in the event.

“Like every other athlete I too faced a lot of hardships, including financial constraints. But my parents ensured that I could keep going.” Life changed after the heavyweight lifter joined Indian Navy in 2015, and then moved to the national camp at Patiala. He went on to win the 2017 Commonwealth Junior Championship, and in the same year, bagged a bronze at the Asian Junior Championship. I n h i s maiden CWG, he had successful lifts in all his attempts in both snatch and clean-jerk, displaying his composure.

“This was my first major competition so obviously I was under pressure. But nerves settled after my first lift as I gradually kept on improving,” he said. Asked about missing the silver by just 3kg, he said: “I fought for it but the competition was tough.” He dedicated the medal to his coaches, family and fellow countrymen.