Sport - Asian Games   

Tang sets new world mark

By A. Vinod

BUSAN Oct. 8. The birth of yet another new world record was witnessed as China continued its domination in the weightlifting events of the 14th Asian Games at the Pukyong National University gymnasium on Tuesday. This despite the fact that Tang Gonghong faced little opposition from the rest of the field in the women's +75-kg category, which apart from the Chinese only attracted five other entries.

The classy Chinese lifter was in her element right from the start. Undeterred by the lack of competition, the 23-year-old never lost focus of the task on hand. In snatch, she, however, was a failure in lifting her third attempt of 130-kg after having cleared 115-kg and 120-kg with ease in her earlier two efforts.

But then, for those who stayed behind there was considerable excitement as Tang, in the clean and jerk, started off with 160-kg and then immediately went for the world record of 165-kg held by compatriot Ding Meiyuan, the gold medallist at the Sydney Olympic Games.

Tang, the worthy successor of Ding, thereafter lifted 167.5-kg in her last try much to the delight of the large Chinese contingent. Tang thus finished with a total of 287.5, exactly 17.5-kg more than what Ding had achieved enroute to her record-breaking effort in Bangkok, four years ago.

The silver, which was decided earlier, went in favour South Korean Jang Mi-Ran who had a total of 272.5 kg. The bronze was also picked up by the host through Mun Kyung-Ae (252.5 kg), who beat Chinese Taipei's Chen Hsiao Lien by a mere 2.5-kg.

Later, Bakhyt Akhmetov did Kazakhstan proud as he won the men's 94-kg quite easily at the expense of Iran's Sydney Olympic Games gold-medallist and continental record holder Koroush Bagheri.

The young Kazakh led the six-lifter field at both the stages of competition after his famed Iranian rival retired hurt from the competition after a failed second attempt of 225-kg in clean and jerk. The Iranian, despite that, was still positioned second in the overall rankings with a total of 385-kg.

Akhmetov finished with 400-kg and with new Games records to boot in the snatch, clean and jerk and total. The 23-year-old's effort of 185-kg in snatch was better by 5-kg than the mark set by compatriot Andrey Markov in Bangkok, while his end result of 215-kg erased the 210-kg mark of Korean Chun Yong-Sung, also achieved four years ago. It was Markov's record of 385-kg which hit the trashcan as Akhmetov engaged himself on a victory jig.

Lee Eung-Jo picked up a third medal in favour of the home side, finishing third with a total of 370-kg.

The results:

Men: 94 kg: 1. Bakhyt Akhmetov (Kaz), (185, 215; 400), 2. Koroush Bagheri (Iri), (175, 210; 385), 3. Lee Eung-Jo (Kor), (170, 200; 370).

Women: +75 kg: 1. Tang Gonghong (Chn), (120, 167.5; 287.5), 2. Jang Mi-Ran (Kor), (117.5, 155; 272.5), 3. Mun Kyung-Ae (Kor), (112.5, 140; 252.5).

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