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First Medals Awarded at Commonweath Games

   VOA News 04 October 2010
   Nigeria's Augustina Nwaokolo lifts a weight to win a Gold medal in the
   women's  weightlifting  event  at the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi,
   India

Photo: AP

   Nigeria's Augustina Nwaokolo lifts a weight to win a Gold medal in the
   women's  weightlifting  event  at the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi,
   India, 4 Oct. 2010.

   The athletic competition has gotten underway at the Commonwealth Games
   in  New  Delhi,  India,  with  smaller crowds than expected crowds and
   minor glitches at the venues.
   Nigeria's  Augustina  Nwaokolo  won  the  first  medal  Monday, as she
   defeated  favored  Indian weightlifter Soniya Chanu to win gold in the
   women's  48-kilogram  division.   The  17-year-old Nwaokolo set a new
   Commonwealth  record  by  lifting a combined total of 175 kilos, eight
   more than Chanu.  India's Sandhya Rani took the bronze.
   The  first  swimming  medal  was also awarded Monday, with Australia's
   Kylie  Palmer  winning  gold  in  the  women's  200-meter freestyle in
   1:57.50.   Silver  went  to  Jazmin  Carlin of Wales, while England's
   Rebecca  Adlington  earned  the bronze.  A total of eight gold medals
   will be awarded Monday.
   Organizers  are  hoping the start of competition will change the focus
   from  the  problems  in  the  run-up  to  the  Games, including filthy
   conditions  at  the athletes village, corruption allegations, security
   and  health  concerns, venue construction delays and the collapse of a
   pedestrian bridge at the main stadium.
   On Sunday an official with India's lawn bowling team, Ruptu Gogoi, was
   diagnosed with dengue fever, a painful viral illness that is spread by
   mosquitoes.
   The  government  said  last  week that only 200,000 of the 1.7 million
   available  tickets  had  been sold for the Games, which bring together
   almost  7,000 athletes and officials from 71 countries and territories
   in the Commonwealth.

   Some information for this report was provided by AP and AFP.

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