China's Sun Haibo won the gold medal of men's over 105kg class
with a total of 431kg on Friday, adding the heaviest title into
China's golden haul at the Asian Weightlifting Championships.
It is, however, not a perfect ending for the Chinese team, since
Sun, though claiming the gold medal of total, lost to Qatar's Jaber
Saeed Salem by 5kg in the clean and jerk competition.
"I do not feel good today, especially when I was facing pressure
in the jerk competition," Sun said, "Perhaps I was nervous, for it
was my first high-level international game."
The 24-year-old Championships rookie snatched 201kg, nearly 10kg
more than that of Salem, but failed in his last two attempts at
240kg in the jerk, when the Qatari lifter succeeded in hoisting
235kg in the last attempt.
"I tried to put pieces together in the last two attempts, but
simply failed to adjust myself well enough," he said.
The over 105kg category has long been dominated by Rezazadeh
Hossein of Iran, who holds the world record of total at 472kg. He
absented from the Asian Championships this years, due to the injury
issue.
Another Iranian lifter Rabie Vahid seemed far less competitive
than his compatriot, as he finished the third place with a total of
408kg. Salem of Qatar took the silver medal of total at 427kg,
merely 4kg less than Sun.
Attending the competitions of six classes, the Chinese men's
team snapped up five gold medals of total at the Championships,
only losing the title of 56kg division to Vietnam's Hoang Anh Tuan,
which showcases that China now still remains powerful in
weightlifting in Asia, and the world at large.
(Xinhua News Agency April 28, 2007)