JEREMY UPLIFTS

Teenaged Lifter From Mizoram Battles Injury, Cramps On Way To CWG Glory

- Hindol Basu

Birmingham: There on the podium, stood a proud Samoan, well-earned silver medal around his neck. But Vaipava Loane was doing more than the token kisses of his trophy and showing it to the crowd. Instead, he was taking off a bright red flower garland from his own neck and leaning across to place it around Jeremy Lalrinnunga’s.

“This is a Samoan magic necklace, which we use for good luck and friendship,” Loane is said to have whispered in the Indian’s ear, in those scant moments before national anthems are played, flags are unfurled and the tears flow. “You, Jeremy are my friend, and this is my way of showing respect,” the 34-year-old nodded to his much-younger, prodigious colleague.

Just 19, Jeremy Lalrinnuna was already garnering the respect of his much-older colleagues. It was their way of saying that his time has come. “When we compete against each other, I would not like to give him an inch. I play hard,” he would tell us later.