Indriyani, Winarni finish 2nd in Greece

JAKARTA (JP): Sri Indriyani and Winarni finished on Sunday second in respectively the women's 48 kilograms and 53 kgs divisions at the World Championships in Athens.

The results enabled both lifters to qualify for the 2000 Olympics in Sydney.

Indriyani won the gold in the snatch event with 82.5 kgs, followed by Donka Micheva of Bulgaria and Kaori Niyanagi of Japan, who both lifted 80 kgs.

Indriyani lifted a total of 185 kgs to win the silver medal, after failing to perform to the best of her ability in the jerk by only lifting 102.5 kgs.

Mincheva took the jerk gold with a total lift of 112.5 kgs and the overall gold with a total lift of 192.5 kgs. Niyanagi took the overall bronze with a total lift of 185 kgs.

In the women's 53 kg division, Winarni took three silvers in the snatch with a total lift of 90 kgs, the jerk with a total lift of 112.5 kgs and the overall category with a total lift of 202.5 kgs.

Li Feng-Ying of Chinese Taipei won the gold after lifting 215 kgs overall. She also took golds in the snatch with a total lift of 95 kgs and the jerk with a total lift of 120 kgs.

Reuters reported that Li broke her own world record for the jerk with a lift of 121.5 kgs. She set the previous mark of 121 kgs at the Asian championships in Wuhan, China, in August.

China's Wang Xiufen followed in third place after lifting a total of 197.5 kgs. Wang lifted 85 kgs in the snatch and 112.5 kgs in the jerk.

The Indonesian Weightlifting, Powerlifting and Bodybuilding Association (PABBSI) secretary-general, Djoko Pramono, said on Monday that he was pleased with the results.

"This is the first time women's weightlifting will be featured at the Olympics. I think our lifters have a great chance to grab a medal because they will face at the Olympics the same opponents from the championships," Djoko said.

"With a limited budget of Rp 20.000 (US$2.90) per athlete per day at the training center, our lifters managed to prove that they can win. Hopefully, in the remaining time, PABBSI can improve their training methods and programs, give them food supplements and increase their nutrition to enable them to win medals.

"The result gives us a great sense of relief. We thank Indonesian people who have supported us in efforts to prepare the athletes. Hopefully we can do better in the future."

Junior lifter Lisa Rumbewas, competing in the 48 kg division, finished seventh, while Supeni, competing in the 53 kg category, finished sixth. (yan)