India’s Priteesmita Bhoi made history at the Asian Youth Games 2025 by setting a new world youth record in weightlifting, clinching gold in the girls’ 44kg clean and jerk category with a lift of 92 kg.
According to the Olympics.com, the record mark earned her a gold medal in the clean and jerk section yesterday. She also clinched silver in the snatch section with a 66kg lift to finish with two medals.
Bhoi began her clean jerk campaign with a successful 87 kg lift, followed by 90 kg, before creating history with her final lift of 92 kg, the new world youth record in the girls’ 44kg division.
The People’s Republic of China’s Wu Jihong (88kg) and the Philippines’ Princess Jay Ann Diaz (78kg) finished second and third, respectively.
This gold marks India’s third at the Asian Youth Games and the first by an individual. The other two golds by India were won by their men’s and women’s kabaddi teams.
In the girls’ 44kg snatch section, Priteesmita Bhoi clinched silver with a 66kg lift on her first attempt. Her next two attempts at 68kg and 69kg were both unsuccessful.
China’s Wu Jihong lifted 68kg to bag the gold in the girls’ 44kg snatch, while Vietnam’s Dao Thi Yen secured bronze with 64kg.
Priteesmita Bhoi’s total lift of 158kg (66kg snatch 92kg clean and jerk) was the best amongst the seven competing weightlifters.
In the boys’ 60kg category, India’s Arumugapandian Maharajan added two silver medals, one each in snatch (114 KG) and clean and jerk (142 kg).
India also shone in athletics and combat sports. The girls’ medley relay team – featuring the quartet of Edwina Jason, Tannu, Bhumika Nehate and Shourya Ambure – won the silver medal after clocking 2:09.65s in the final.
Elsewhere, Alphonsa Zinia Wriang won a bronze medal for India after scoring 8.47 points in the girls’ Wai Kru 16-17 final.
Later, India’s mixed taekwondo team of Hardik Ahlawat, Dhanashree Pawar, Gharluxmi Phurailatpam and Nihal Dewali bagged a bronze after losing 2-0 to Thailand in the semi-finals.
They had earlier defeated Hong Kong China 2-0 and Saudi Arabia 2-1 to confirm a medal.
The seven medals yesterday saw India’s overall tally at the Asian Youth Games rise to 24 – three gold, 10 silver and 11 bronze.
A total of 222 Indian athletes are representing their country at the Asian Youth Games, which will conclude on October 31.
