In a stunning display of strength and power, teenage Indian weightlifter Maibam Martina Devi etched her name in the record books at the Junior World Championships. The 18-year-old from Manipur delivered a performance that left spectators in awe, shattering senior national records in both clean and jerk and total lift in the women’s +87kg weight category.
Devi’s journey to glory began with a remarkable feat in the snatch. She lifted an impressive 101kg, surpassing her own previous junior national record of 95kg set in July 2022. This remarkable achievement also brought her within a mere 3kg of the senior national record of 104kg, currently held by Purnima Pandey. Despite this impressive display, Devi finished sixth in the snatch competition among a field of seven competitors.
The highlight of Devi’s performance came in the clean and jerk. She lifted a staggering 136kg, exceeding the previous senior national record of 128kg held by Manpreet Kaur of Punjab by a remarkable 8kg. This lift also marked a significant improvement over her previous best in clean and jerk, which was a junior national record of 123kg.
Her total lift of 237kg, which secured her sixth place in the competition, surpassed the existing senior national record of 231kg set by Ann Mariya M T of Kerala by an impressive 6kg. This accomplishment also marked a 19kg improvement over Devi’s previous best total lift, which was also a junior national record.
Despite her record-breaking performances, Devi missed out on a podium finish in all three sections. However, her exceptional displays showcased her incredible potential and solidified her position as a force to be reckoned with in the world of weightlifting. Martina Devi’s performance serves as an inspiration to aspiring athletes, demonstrating that with dedication and hard work, even the seemingly impossible can be achieved.
