Lifter Indri bags RI's 1st medal
By Primastuti Handayani
BANGKOK (JP): Liu Xiuhua of China won the gold medal in the 48 kilograms women's weightlifting event on the second day of the 13th Asian Games.
Liu lifted a total of 187.5 kilograms and set a new snatch record of 83.5 kilograms. China's Li Zhou had held the previous record of 83 kilograms since September. Xiuhua ended her attempt to break the world clean and jerk mark of 112.5 kilograms at 104.
Myanmar's Kay Thi-Win took silver in the event after lifting a total of 182.5 kilograms, while Sri Indriyani of Indonesia won the bronze with a total of 180 kilograms, bringing Indonesia its first medal of the games.
"I was really disappointed because I should have won the silver. However, I'm proud to be Indonesia's first medalist, even if it's only a bronze," the 20-year-old lifter better known as Indri told reporters after the competition.
National Sports Council chairman Wismoyo Arismunandar, State Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Agung Laksono, Gelora Senayan executive director Yasidi Hambali, and the secretary- general of the Indonesian Weightlifting, Powerlifting and Body building Association Djoko Pramono shook Indri's hand and kissed her forehead after her success.
Indri lifted 80 kilograms in the snatch, while Kay could only manage 77.5 kilograms. But in the clean and jerk, Kay clinched the silver by lifting 105 kilograms, while Indri failed to lift 102.5 kilograms in her last attempt.
Indri said the technical controller asked her to remove her left knee support on the stage before her third attempt in the snatch.
"It really distressed me because I was on stage when the official asked me to take it off," she said. "But it shouldn't be an excuse for my loss."
Djoko said the controller should have asked Indri to remove the support before she went onto the stage.
"What they did really ruined her concentration and the clock was ticking. We didn't protest because IWF (International Weightlifting Federation) officials handled the matter and Indri was given the chance to repeat her attempt," he said.
Indri's success will bring her a Rp 15 million (US$2,000) cash bonus from the council. Wismoyo has promised to award Rp 50 million to each gold medalist, Rp 30 million to each silver medalist and Rp 15 million to each bronze medalist.
Indri said she had suffered from nerves the previous evening and had been unable to sleep.
"My ranking placed me fourth in the draw, but all the other lifters had better records than me, so I was lucky to get the bronze," she said.
Indonesia will field Supeni and Winarni in the women's 53 kilograms division and Taufik in the men's 62 kilogram division.
Djoko said that Tuesday's competition would be harder than on Monday.
"Our opponents will be tougher, especially those from China. Our chances of winning a medal are 50-50. But it will be hard to get the silver. If we're lucky, we might get another bronze from one of our three athletes," he said.