China continue to rule

Bangkok, Dec 8: The Chinese emphasised the depth they have in women's weightlifting, as they broke one more world record today.India's Th...

Bangkok, Dec 8: The Chinese emphasised the depth they have in women8217;s weightlifting, as they broke one more world record today.

India8217;s Th Sanamacha Chanu crashed to seventh place 8212; the same as Kunjarani in women and AK Pandian in men yesterday 8212; with a performance that was admittedly lower than she has been achieving at home.

Chanu lifted 80 kg in her first attempt in snatch and then succeeded at 82.5 kg in her next try. However, she failed with 85 kg, which placed at a distinct advantage before the clean and jerk segment began. Only four of the 12 lifters were behind her after the first half of the competition. In jerk, Chanu opened with 105 kg and then failed twice with 110 kg. That put her seventh overall.

It was a dramatic contest, where the second placed Li Feng-Ying of the Chinese Taipei, when resigned to a silver medal, decided to make a bold bid for a new world record in jerk, minutes after China8217;s Yang Xia had raised it to 118 kg. Feng-Ying, who had lifted 112.5 kg on her second attempt,asked the bar to raised to 118.5 kg but despite getting the weight to her shoulder, failed to take it over.

Yang knew her capacity as she asked for 118 kg for a world record on her first attempt in clean and jerk. She lifted it easily and then after Feng-Ying8217;s failed bid at 118.5 kg, she asked for 120 kg, probably because 118 kg, being a fraction, would be accepted only for the world records. But with 120 kg rounded off that and took the total to 212.5 kg. The previous world record was 117.5 kg for jerk and 210 kg for the total by her countrywoman Wang Xiufen, who set the jerk mark and the world record for total 8212; 210 kg 8212; in the World Championships in Lahti, Finland barely a month ago.

Incidentally, the snatch world record is held by yet another Chinese Zhang Xixiang at 95 kg and the previous Asian record in jerk was 113.0 kg in yet another Chinese Guo Hibing.

Li Feng-Ying took the silver with 90 kg in snatch and 112.5 kg jerk for a total of 202.5 kg. Swe Wei-Win gave Myanmar yet another medalafter a silver yesterday in 48 kg, with 87.5 kg in snatch and 110 kg in jerk for a total of 197.5 kg which was the same as Indonesian Supeni Supeni. But the Myanmar girl won because of lighter body weight.