Asians women reign supreme

Asians women reign supreme

CHIANG MAI, Thailand (AFP): Asian athletes assured their domination of women's weight lifting by winning a string of medals in the 59-kilogram category at the world championships here.

Indonesia's Patmawati carried off two gold medals in the 59-kg category, lifting 97.5 kilograms in the snatch event, and 212.5 kgs overall.

"I am very happy, because I didn't win any medals at the last Southeast Asian games, in my home in Jakarta," Patmawati said after the competition.

In the clean-and-jerk competition, Thai Suta Khassaraporn won the gold medal, with a lift of 117.5 kgs -- just 7.5 kgs away from her world record last October at the Southeast Asian games in Jakarta.

"I already lifted 127.5 kilograms in the clean-and-jerk in training, and I was hoping to beat the world record today. But I injured my calves on the first try at the clean-and-jerk, and I had to content myself with 117.5 kilograms at the event," said Suta, after winning her gold medal.

Her victory brings Thailand its first-ever weight lifting championship title.

In the women's categories of 46, 50, 54 and 59 kgs, competitors from Asian countries garnered 12 gold medals, nine silver medals, and 12 bronzes. Only Bulgarian Izabela Dragneva saved face for Europe, with her three silver medals Sunday in the 50 kg competition.

Only one world record has been broken so far in the women's competition, by the Chinese Xianjuan Meng, who on Monday lifted 117.5 kgs in the clean-and-jerk contest, in the 54-kg category.

China's Yan Zhong beat the junior world record Sunday, in the 50-kg category, with a snatch lift of 85 kilograms.