Asian women set to dominate in Olympic debut

Asian women set to dominate in Olympic debut

SYDNEY (AP): From the farms of China, the island of Taiwan and even seemingly less likely places like Thailand and Indonesia, Asian women weightlifters have come to Sydney prepared to dominate a sport which makes its debut at the Olympics.

The Chinese women, who own 15 of the 21 world records, are the clear favorites although rules limit them to competition in just four of the seven weight categories.

Chinese Taipei was hurt because of doping. Although they still have top-ranked lifters here, the loss of world champion Chen Jui-Lian as well as Wu Mei-Yi is a major setback in Chinese Taipei's quest for its first Olympic gold.

Japan, India, Thailand, Indonesia and the two Koreas all have potential medalists at Sydney.

"Some still have the old notion that Asians can't build up their torsos and legs, which are also key to weightlifting. Obviously that's wrong," said Ron Jackson, a former Australian weightlifter, as he watched some of the world's strongest athletes train in a cavernous army warehouse.

Although not quite up to their female counterparts, male weightlifters from China, Chinese Taipei and South Korea should also take medals in the lighter weight categories.

But it will the be the Asian women that star, especially the Chinese who have almost monopolized the sport since it went international 13 years ago.

Women's weightlifting is being included as an Olympic sport for the first time at Sydney. Male Olympians have been pumping iron for 80 years.

Since 1987, Chinese has amassed a total of 240 world championship golds to a mere 17 for second-ranked Taiwan and 16 for Bulgaria. At Sydney, the Chinese aim for wins from world record holder Ding Meiyuan in the 75 kilograms plus division, veteran and record holder Lin Weining in the 69kgs, Chen Xiaomin, 63kgs, and Yan Xia, 53kgs.

Thailand puts its hope in Suta Kessaraporn, one of several non-Chinese from Asia who have excellent shots at medals. "If she can improve in the snatch, she has a chance to make history," said Panot Saengtien, a Thai sports official,

Suta, 28, is ranked third in the world in the 58 kilogram division, and won a gold in the 1997 World Championships. She will face tough competition from North Korea's Ri Song-Hui who is ranked first.

Her teammate, Saipin Detsaeng, captured a silver at this year's Asian Championships which propelled her to a no. 2 world ranking in the 63 kilograms.

Silver medalist at the 1999 World Championships, Sri Indriyani of Indonesia, was touted by the American magazine Sports Illustrated as the best gold prospect in the lightest division, 48kgs.

But the 21-year-old said she has sustained a number of recent injuries and undergone a leg operation. "There are stronger teams than ours," she said before beginning her training routine Friday.

Others to watch when competition begins Sunday are India's Chanu Sanamacha and Karnam Malleswari, Kim Soon-hee of South Korea and Japan's Kaori Niyanagi and Mari Nakaga. All are ranked fourth or higher in the world.

"They have a huge pool of manpower to draw on in China. And when they have to pull out a few for doping, there are ten others who are just as good to take their place," said Jackson, the former Australian weightlifter and trainer by way of explaining China's prowess.

"It's like the Soviet Union of the 1980s when there were one million registered weightlifters there and the top got full government support," Jackson said. "Australian weightlifters train after work and get little government support. In China they train three times a day."