At the Asian Weightlifting Championships in Jiangshan, east China's Zhejiang Province, China's Olympic gold medalist Liu Huanhua put on an electrifying show in the men’s 102kg event. Despite a rocky start in the snatch—lifting 171kg and 180kg—veteran Hasanbayev Davranbek of Turkmenistan surged ahead with a dramatic 182kg lift, leaving Liu with a silver in that segment. But the story was far from over!
Switching gears in the clean and jerk, Liu roared back with lifts of 220kg and 230kg. Though he aimed for a world record with 234kg on his final try, his 230kg effort was enough to secure him the gold in the clean and jerk and the overall total, finishing with a mighty 410kg. 💪🔥
The action wasn't limited to the men’s event. In the women’s 87kg category, China's Tian Dongping and Jiang Yujia battled fiercely. Tian dazzled on the snatch with 118kg and then dominated the clean and jerk with an impressive 141kg on her first attempt. With an overall total of 259kg, Tian swept the podium, capturing all three gold medals as Jiang settled for silver.
Reflecting on his performance, Liu remarked, "I performed well in the competition, according to my daily training, but I expect more from myself. I was not in my best form, and failed to lift 234kg on the last attempt, after hoisting 230kg through sheer willpower. I could almost feel my waist separating from my body at that moment." His honest words capture the intensity and passion that make weightlifting such a thrilling sport.
Reference(s):
Liu claims two men's 102kg golds at Asian Weightlifting Championships
cgtn.com
