Satish on cloud nine

Glasgow: For weightlifter Satish Kumar Sivalingam, the gold in the Commonwealth Games here has been a life-changing experience as he has fulfilled his parents' dream of seeing their son winning the top prize in the multi-sporting event.

The 22-year-old Satish, a Southern Railway employee, said his parents would have been disappointed had he not won a gold after four years of intensive training.

"It (winning the gold) is life's turning point. I have realised my dream of becoming a Commonwealth gold medal. It was four years of hard work and expectation. My parents were telling people of my village in Vellore district that I will win a gold medal at the Games. I have fulfilled their dreams," he said.

"I am from a poor family and my father was in the army in a small post. He played at the national championships but failed to win a medal at the international level. He wanted me to win a medal in a big international event," he added. "My father initiated me to weightlifting and I started at a village gym when I was just 15 years old,’ he said.