Ajay Singh tops group B in Asian Weightlifting C'ships

Indian weightlifters Ajay Singh and Achinta Sheuli finished first and third respectively in easier group B competitions at the Asian Weightlifting Championship here on Monday.

Asian Youth and Junior Weightlifting Championships bronze medallist Ajay lifted 320kg (142kg+178kg) in the men's 81kg group B event to be placed at the top of the four-man field. His final standing will be determined on Tuesday after the end of group A proceedings.

National champion Achinta finished third with a total lift of 297kg -- 137kg in snatch and 160kg in clean and jerk -- in the 77kg group B event. The 18-year-old finished behind Indonesia's Rahmat Erwin Abdullah 312kg (141kg+171kg) and Vietnam's Pham Tuan Anh 304kg (133kg+171kg).

On Sunday, the country's top weightlifter Mirabai Chanu produced her personal best but missed the podium by a whisker in the 49kg category. In the men's 67 kg group B competitions, Youth Olympics gold medallist Jeremy Lalrinnunga set three world records.

Jhilli Dalabehera is .