Asian Games Preview: Prospects of Chinese Weightlifters Promising

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, September 18, 2002

Asian Games Preview: Prospects of Chinese Weightlifters Promising

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With their potential challenger slooming on the floor of arena, China's weight lifters are gearing up for a strong showing to cement women's dominance and expand men's winning turf at the upcoming Asian Games.

The Asiad, running from September 29 to October 14 in Busan, South Korea, has a total of 15 golds on offer in this power sport. The Chinese lifters eye raising more than nine gold medals over their shoulders in the limelight after the heated rivalries. The nine-plus most coveted medals in the sport in Busan amount to barbell weights ranging from 48kg for women to 105kg for men.

Although Li Shunzhu, head coach of the Chinese national women's weightlifting team, sets a moderate target of grabbing at least five golds at the Asian Games, another clean sweep of all seven golds for the women event is still a prospect.

China's women lifters swept seven golds in the 1998 Asian Gamesin Bangkok, with a total of 13 world records broken for 17 times.

"We are doing all our best to achieve a better performance," Li told Xinhua before leaving for Busan.

"We definitely won't miss this opportunity."

China is sending seven women lifters to Busan, one for each of the total seven classes at the Asiad. Despite of the fact that a few of them have already earned their world champion titles, all of the seven are Asian Games debutants.

"The lack of their Asian Games or Olympic experience poses a challenge to them," Li said. "But I'm confident of them."

China has dominated women's weightlifting in the Asiad for about 10 years, but a circumspective approach is still adopted throughout this Asiad preparation. In the Asian Games, especially in some lesser weight divisions, China has several competitive rivals. Myanmar poses a major threat in the 48kg class.

In the 53kg class, one Chinese Taipei lifter is competitive. The Democratic People's Republic of Korea appears to be a challenger in the 58kg class. In the classes of 63kg, 69kg, 75kg and over-75kg, China's women lifters are expected to cruise through their events to claim the golds.

At the Sydney Olympics, Chinese women swept all gold medals in the four categories they took part in.

On men's side, the competition is much tougher and more suspense hinges on the final successful snatches and jerks. Out ofthe total eight categories, China will endeavor to ensure four, strive for five and strain after six golds in Busan.

Wu Shude, head coach of the Chinese national men's weightlifting team, said they are confident in contributing no less than four golds for China, which has assumed long-standing dominance in men's light divisions.

"We managed to have a good knowledge about both our rivals and ourselves," Wu told Xinhua during a training session. In the 56kg and 69kg categories, China's men lifters might meet some threat from South Korea and Chinese Taipei. Meanwhile, lifters of Iran andQatar are competitive in the 85kg category.

The Chinese strong men claimed four golds and two silvers in all the eight divisions at the Bangkok Asian Games. But at the Sydney Olympics, China's men lifters won only one gold medal.

"We are competitive in Asia," said Wu. "But our target is the 2004 Olympics. We hope to achieve a good performance at the Athens Games."

Kicking off on September 30, the Asian Games weightlifting competitions last 10 days, with medals in one or two classes coming out every day. They feature women's categories between 48kg and over-75kg and men's from 56kg to 105kg-plus.

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