Ravi Kumar disappoints,weightlifting campaign ends

Ravi Kumar,who had just recovered in time for the event after a bout of fever,lifted a below par 303kg -- 136kg in snatch and 167kg in clean and jerk -- to finish sixth in the 10-lifter Group B competition.

India8217;s weightlifting campaign in the London Olympics ended today on a dismal note with Katulu Ravi Kumar coming up with a below-par performance in the men8217;s 69kg category at the ExCel Arena here.

Ravi Kumar,who had just recovered in time for the event after a bout of fever,lifted a below par 303kg 8212; 136kg in snatch and 167kg in clean and jerk 8212; to finish sixth in the 10-lifter Group B competition.

The Group A competition among 14 top weightlifters of this category will be held later tonight.

In major weightlifting events,the top among the participants are placed in Group A so that the performance of the lifters are improved while competing with the best. Those participants who are in the lower rung are placed in Group B.

The first position in Group B went to North Korea8217;s Kim Myong Hyok,who lifted a total of 329kg 145184.

The second and third spots went to Junior Antonio Rivero Sanchez of Venezuela and Sardar Hasanov of Azerbaijan,who lifted 328kg 148180 and 321kg 145176,respectively.

The CWG gold medallist Ravi had lifted a total of 311kg 141170 to bag sixth spot at the recent Asian Championships,but even that effort would not have given him any chance for a podium finish.

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Ravi Kumar blamed the fever he had in the past few days as the main reason for his poor show.

8220;I had a fever before the competition and I am disappointed that I did not perform well because of that,8221; he said.

On being part of the Olympic Games,he said,8221;My country will not be proud of my performance but I am proud to be in the world8217;s number one competition.8221;

The other Indian lifter in the fray,N Soniya Chanu had finished seventh in the women8217;s 48kg category on July 28.