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."