Winarni lifts Indonesia to second bronze
Winarni lifts Indonesia to second bronze
SYDNEY (Agencies): Former world champion Winarni handed Indonesia its second bronze at the 2000 Olympic Games here on Monday when she finished third in the women's weightlifting competition.
Inspired by teammate Lisa Rumbewas who clinched a bronze the day earlier, Winarni hoisted 90 kgs in snatch and 112 kgs in clean and jerk for a total lift of 202.5 kgs in the 53 kg division event.
"I had never thought I could win the bronze, because I used to compete in 48 kg division," a shy looking Winarni told Antara.
She added the Olympic bronze gave her more pride than the gold medal she won in the 1997 World Championships in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
"This is my best achievement ever which I could dedicate to my country. I thank God and my coach who is here just to see me compete," she said.
The coach, Imron Rosadi, said Winarni had yet to reach her peak form as she managed to hoist 97.5 kgs in the snatch and 117.5 kgs during her training session prior to the Olympics.
China's Yang Xia set new world marks in the snatch, clean and jerk and overall divisions to take the gold in the 53kg division with a total of 225 kgs (100 kgs and 125 kgs). She beat world champion and former countrywoman Li Feng-ying who represented Chinese Taipei.
Li, who won a world championship bronze medal for China in 1994 before going into a four year hibernation from the sport, took silver with 212.5 kgs (97.5 kgs and 115 kgs).
"I am very happy as I did not prepare well for today as I had an injury," said Yang. "I used to be on the same team as Li and I expected her to perform well today. But I felt calm and confident throughout."
Mexican weightlifter Soraya Jimenez produced a mighty final lift to take the gold in the women's 58 kg category later in the day and deny North Korean favorite Ri Song-hui.
Ri took silver but the North Korean team appealed to the jury, claiming there had been an irregularity during her penultimate lift.
The jury dismissed the appeal within minutes and confirmed Jimenez as winner.
Suta Khassaraporn of Thailand took bronze.
Ri appeared to be cruising towards gold until her second lift of the clean-and-jerk section when she was penalized for exceeding the one-minute time limit.
She looked startled when the buzzer sounded to indicate she had wasted the attempt at 122.5 kg.
The Korean then succeeded at the same weight with her final lift to put herself back in the gold medal position.
She jumped off the platform and celebrated with her coach, seemingly convinced she had sealed victory.
But Jimenez asked for 127.5 kg to be put on the bar and lifted it agonizingly over her head to win gold by just 2.5 kgs and give Mexico its first gold medal in Olympic weightlifting history.
Her final score was 222.5 kg to Ri's 220. Suta was a further 10 kg back on 210 kg.
"I made lots of sacrifices to get here tonight and I want to dedicate this victory to my grandfather," said Jimenez, who was roared on by a small but loud cluster of flag-waving Mexicans in the Sydney Convention Center.
"Many thoughts are going through my mind... I am very, very happy. I've been working very, very hard."