However, that top spot may be short-lived as Indian lifters have finished their categories. All seven lifters were among medals, with Wilson Dharmaraj (56 kg snatch), Arumugam Pandian (56 kg combined) and Satish Rai (77 kg snatch) winning gold. All three gold medal efforts were new Games records.

Rai, the only Indian to win a gold at the Commonwealth Championships in Nauru recently, began well with a gold in snatch. His 147.5 kg was a new Games record, 2.5 kgs better than the silver winner David Morgan of Wales. But in clean and jerk, Damian Brown towered over all with 187.5 kgs.

After successfully jerking 175 kgs, Rai attempted 180 kgs which, if he had lifted, would have helped him tie with Brown on total. But even if he had, he would have lost gold on bodyweight, as Brown is 100 grammes lighter.

Earlier, G Vadivelu won bronze in the snatch with 162.5 kgs and then Sandip Kumar, who was fourth in snatch and fifth in clean and jerk, totalled 285 kgs to finish third.

Results: 69 kg (snatch): 1 Sebastien Groulx (Canada) 130 kgs, 2 Stewart Cruishank (England) 130, 3 Tony Morgan (Wales) 130. 5. Sandip Kumar (India) 125; 9. G. Vadivelu (India) 115.0.

Clean and jerk final: 1 Muhamad Hidayat Hamidon (Mas) 167.5 kgs, 2 Sebastien Groulx (Can) 167.5, 3 G Vadivelu (Ind) 162.5, 4. Sandip Kumar (Ind) 160.0.

Combined final: 1 Sebastien Groulx (Can) 297.5 kg, 2 Muhamad Hidayat Hamidon (Mas) 295, 3 Sandip Kumar (Ind) 285; 6 G Vadivelu (Ind) 277.5.

77kg snatch (final): 1 Satish Rai (Ind) 147.5 kg (GR), 2 David Morgan (Wal) 145; 3 Damian Brown (Aus) 140.

Clean & jerk final: 1 Damian Brown (Aus) 187.5 kg (GR), 2 Satish Rai (Ind) 175; 3 Alain Bilodeau (Can) 167.5.

Combined: 1 Damian Brown (Aus) 327.5 kg (GR), 2 Satish Rai (Ind)322.5, Alain Bilodeau (Can) 305.0.