The Hindu : Sun Dan sets World record

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Nov 01, 2003

Sport

Sport - Afro-Asian Games

Sun Dan sets World record

By Our Special Correspondent

Hyderabad oct. 31. Sun Dan of China shattered the World and Asian record in the clean and jerk event of the women's over 75kg category in the weightlifting championships of the Afro-Asian Games here today.

The massively-built 20-year-old Chinese, who has a bodyweight of 121.45kg, hoisted 168.5kg.

The previous World and Asian record stood at 168kg in the name of Tang Gonghong also of China, created in September this year. Sun Dan, who does not speak English managed to convey to the media that she had prepared hard for this meet and had believed that the world record was attainable.

When the clean and jerk competition started, Sun Dan took up 130kg in her first attempt and lifted it successfully.

She then straightaway jumped to 168.5kg for her second attempt. It showed that she had tremendous confidence in her ability.

She put in all her concentration and strength into that all-important lift and the hush, which had descended on the hall, was shattered by the spontaneous and thunderous applause of the huge crowd when she hoisted the barbell overhead.

It was indeed a historic moment for Hyderabad and a landmark of the first ever Afro-Asian Games that a world record was broken.

Thanks to her World record effort in jerk, Sun Dan took the gold easily and posted a huge total of 278.5kg.

Balkisu Musa of Nigeria who was second was far behind with 225kg, while India's Geeta Rani took the bronze with 222.5kg.

In the men's over 105kg category two Iranian youngsters gave their country the gold and silver.

Twenty-year-old Mohammed Selehi took the gold with a total of 372.5kg and his teammate 19-year-old Rashid Sharifi took the silver with 370kg. Mike Eamson of Nigeria was third with 360 kg.

In the clean and jerk Mike Eamson lifted 210kg, which according to the organisers was the heaviest weight ever lifted on Indian soil.

The results:

Men:

over 105kg: 1. Mohammed Selehi (Irn) 165, 207.5 = 372.5; 2. Rashid Sharifi (Irn) 170, 200 = 370; 3. Mike Eamson (Ngr) 150, 210 = 360.

Women:

75kg: Yang Houqin (Chn) 107.5, 135 = 242.5; 2. Ijeoma Nwatu (Ngr) 100, 122.5 = 222.5; 3. Sumati Devi (Ind) 97.5, 120 = 217.5.

Over 75kg: 1. Sun Dan (Chn) 110, 168.5 = 278.5; 2. Balkisu Musa (Ngr) 100, 125 = 225; 3. Geeta Rani (Ind) 97.5, 125 = 222.5.

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