China Sweep Gold Medals on First Day of Weightlifting Worlds

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, November 21, 2002

China Sweep Gold Medals on First Day of Weightlifting Worlds

China swept all the six golds available and rewrote world records six times on the first day of the 2002 weightlifting world championships Tuesday in Warsaw.

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China swept all the six golds available and rewrote world records six times on the first day of the 2002 weightlifting world championships Tuesday in Warsaw.

China's ace female lifter Wang Mingjuan collected the first three gold medals and broke world records six times in the 48kg category to become the most shinning star in Torwar Stadium in Warsaw.

Wang, only 17, refreshed the snatch world record twice in the competition. She overcame 90.5kgs in her second attempt to break her own record of 90kgs set in the world junior championships in the Czech Republic in June. Furthermore, she lifted 92.5kgs in the third.

Actually, her first lift of 87.5kgs had already became the best result among the 12 competitors in the category.

In the jerk, Wang lifted 110kgs in her first attempt, which seta world record of 202.5 kgs for the total, beating her own record of 200 set in the junior world championships.

The success of her second lift of 112.5 kgs extended her record-breaking times to four Tuesday evening and her third lift of 115.5kgs not only broke the jerk record of 115kgs set by her compatriot Li Zhuo in June, but also raised the record of the total to 207.5 kgs.

After the completion, Wang, who did not attend the Busan Asian Games, said that she had prepared a lot for the world championships.

"Although we came to Warsaw through a long and uncomfortable journey and had only one day to get used to the 7-hour time difference, as an outstanding athlete, I have the ability to cope with the difficulties," she said.

"I am confident I will win today and I hope to do even better in the Athens Olympic Games," She added.

Chinese coach Li Shunzhu said: "Although Wang is still a teenager, she looks more mature on the platform and can keep her form in quite a long time."

Chinese strongman Wu Meijin, the Busan Asiad champion, took the men's 56kg snatch, jerk and total golds, fulfilling China's sweeping of the six golds at stake on the first day.

Wu, 22, snatched 127.5 kgs, jerked 160 to total at 287.5 kgs.

Halil Mutlu of Turkey, winner of the 56kg category at last year's world championships in Turkey and holder of the category's snatch, jerk and total world records, did not come to Warsaw, due to a knee injury.

"I have been eager to challenge Mutlu in the world championships. If he came, I would be more excited to compete on the platform," Wu said after the match.

Wu Shude, the Chinese head coach, told Xinhua after the competition that Wu Meijin is an athlete with stable performance anytime and anywhere.

"After attending the Busan Asiad which concluded on October 14,Wu was the best one among the Chinese team in adjustment and preparation for the world championships," he added.

"He did quite well today, although the results were not his best," the coach said.

At the Busan Asiad, Wu clinched the gold medal of the 56kg with a total of 292.5kgs. Asian Games set only one gold for the total of each category.

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