Malleswari's prowess to be tested on Tuesday

Sydney: Will Karnam Malleswari, a former world champion, make it to the medals in the weightlifting competitions at the Olympics on Tuesday?

The Indian contingent hopes that Malleswari, a new entrant in the 69 kg class, would live upto their expectation and lift the elusive individual Olympic medal for the country.

Coach Pal Singh Sandhu and selector Balbir Singh Bhatia have been asserting that Malleswari is in the ''Olympic medal zone'' in the 69kg class.

''If Malleswari is able to match the lifts she has been achieving while training, she may be able to clear 240 kg and that can fetch her a medal,'' Bhatia said. Malleswari has been lifting 115 kg in snatch and 137.5 in clean and jerk in training.

At the last World Cup in Athens, Malleswari had lifted 230 kg which fetched her a fourth place. The winner of the gold in Athens had lifted 240 kg.

Bhatia said Malleswari has enough experience, having participated in various international competitions. ''I do not expect her to get unnerved here,'' he said adding, ''Olympics is a very awesome sporting stage where athletes who can hold on to their nerves, emerge winners.''

''Besides, it also depends upon that particular moment, many a great player has fumbled in the Olympics,'' Bhatia said.

Sandhu said, ''I am expecting that Malleswari will live up to her full potential and if she is able to do that, there is no reason why she should not be in the medal contention.''

UNI