South Korea stops China's march with record jerk
South Korea stops China's march with record jerk
BANGKOK (AFP): South Korea's Kim Hak-bong put on a sensational
final burst to win the men's 69kg class title Wednesday and halt
China's sweep of the Asian Games weightlifting.
Kim, who had 180kg after two tries in the jerk, suddenly asked
the weight to be raised to 195kg for his third attempt, five
kilos more than what the International Weightlifting Federation
perceived to be fit for a world record.
Kim stunned the crowd by lifting clearly to finish the event
level with gold medal contender Wan Jianhui on 340kg.
The South Korean was awarded the gold medal because of a lower
body weight, ending China's dream run which saw them take all the
five titles contested till then at the Games.
Wan, whose last lift was 185kg, took the silver while Kim
Myong-jung of North Korea won the bronze with an overall effort
of 312.5kg
"I took a chance and it worked," a delighted Kim said. "I was
nervous when I went out there a final time, but there was nothing
to lose.
"I would have been happy if I did not get the record. But now
I am very, very happy. It's a dream."
Till Kim came along, the event went on expected lines as Wan
established a new Asian record of 155kg in the snatch to emerge
clear favorite for another Chinese gold.
Wan failed in his final jerk at 190.5kg, but still appeared
certain of winning gold till Kim upset the calculations.
China felt they were cheated in the women's 58kg when Chen
Yanqing of China blamed judges for preventing her from attempting
three world records.
Chen, who won after improving on her own world record in the
snatch, attempted a record lift in her first attempt at the jerk
which would have also put her in line for the overall record.
The judges, however, disallowed the lift because Chen was not
properly balanced at the finish, a decision that left the Chinese
distraught.
"I thought it was a clean lift," an angry Chen. "Their
decision cost me two more world records."
If Chen's first attempt at 123.5kg had been accepted, she may
have touched a record 125kg by her third visit -- a feat later
achieved by North Korea's Ri Song-hui on her way to the silver
medal.