Soniya, Sandhya succeed India's first medals

Women lifters Soniya Chanu and Sandhya Rani Devi provided the Common wealth Games hosts their first two medals on the opening of competitions on Monday while their men’s freestyle quartet made history by reaching the finish in swimming.

Chanu, favourite for the 48 kg gold medal, developed for silver by clearing 167 kg which was eight kg below what surprise champion Augustina Nwaokolo of Nigeria lifted to win the competition with a new Games record to boot.

Chanu and Nwaokolo were tied with the equal clearance of 94 kg in the snatch contest but the latter, who weighed slightly fewer than the Indian woman, advanced the issue in the clean and jerk category.