Weightlifting: Katulu Ravi Kumar finishes 6th in group stage, fails to make it to medal round

Ravi Kumar Katulu was unable to qualify for the medal round after finishing 6th in Group B)

London - India’s participation in the Olympic weightlifting event ended Tuesday when Katulu Ravi Kumar finished sixth in Group B of the 69kg category.

Ravi Kumar lifted 303kg with 136kg in snatch and 167kg through clean and jerk.

North Korea’s Kim Myong Hyok was on top with a total of 329kg, ahead of Antonio Sanchez Rivero (328) of Venezuela and Azerbaijani Sardar Hasanov (321).

Fourteen athletes have qualified for the medal round to take place later in the day.

Ravi Kumar, who won the gold in 2010 Commonwealth Games, said he could not perform to his potential due to a bout of fever.

“I was unwell in the run-up to the competition. That did not allow me to perform to my potential. Having said that, there are no excuses for the way I fared,” said Ravi Kumar.

“My country will not be happy with my performance but it was a memorable experience to compete in the Olympics.”

Soniya Chanu, the other member of the small weightlifting contingent, had earlier come seventh in the women’s 48kg event.