Ben Turner showed his strength
in the 69kg division.
Australia’s Ben Turner has snatched victory the Men’s 69kg Weightlifting. With a total weight of 294kg, he lifted 128kg in the Snatch and 166kg in the Clean & Jerk.
Malaysia’s Muhammad Hidayat and India’s Sudhir Kumar Chitradurga finished second and third respectively.
Cameroon’s Francois Etoundi came in fourth with a total weight of 286kg, followed by Australian Joel Wilson in fifth place and New Zealand’s Mark Spooner in sixth with 279kg.
Turner won the Commonwealth Games Weightlifting Selection Trials in December, 2005, with a Snatch weight of 127kg and 160kg in the Clean & Jerk.
His performance at the Games was seven kilograms heavier, indicating he has become stronger over the past three months. His team mate, Wilson, came in second at the same competition.
Four years ago in Manchester Australia won eight gold medals. Unlike then, where medals were awarded for individual disciplines, only overall performances will be rewarded in Melbourne.
Turner currently has his sights set on becoming an airline pilot for Qantas.
Hidayat was fifth at the Manchester Games in the 69kg Snatch with a lift of 130kg. He also won bronze in the 69kg Clean & Jerk (167.50kg).
At the Manchester Games Chitradurga won bronze in the 69kg Snatch lifting 135kg and was ranked second coming into Melbourne.
For more results, visit the Weightlifting Schedule and Results section of this Website.
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