Li sets weightlifting world record at Asian Games

Li sets weightlifting world record at Asian Games

Chinese weightlifter Li Ping has set a world record to win the women's 117-pound division at the Asian Games.

By Associated Press | Posted: Nov 14, 9:19a ET | Updated: Nov 14, 9:55a ET

GUANGZHOU, China (AP) - Li Ping set world records Sunday to win the 53-kilogram weightlifting division at the Asian Games and her teammate Zhang Jie won the men's 62-kilogram division to continue China's dominating run.

Li broke an eight-year-old world record in the snatch when she lifted 103 kilograms, beating the mark set by North Korea's Ri Song Hui at the 2002 Asian Games. She then lifted 127 in the clean and jerk for a total of 230 kilograms, improving the world record for the combined mark.

Qiu Hongxia, also from China, set the previous combined world record of 226 kilograms in 2006.

Zulfiya Chinshanlo from Kazakhstan won silver with a combined total of 219, while Prapawadee Jaroengrattanatarakoon (215) clinched bronze.

Li's world record effort helped China to its fourth gold from four finals so far at Guangzhou.

"It's a very happy moment for me," said Li, who bowed quickly to acknowledge the record lift.

The Chinese government has promised $10,000 to every athlete who breaks a world record in the Asian Games, but Li said: "I haven't thought about how I would be spending it."

Li was not totally satisfied with her clean and jerk performance which was two kilogram less than the world record of 129 kilogram she set three years ago.

"I was good in snatch, but was not as good in clean and jerk as I was doing in practice," she said.

Despite her emphatic win, Li is still trying to improve to earn a place at the 2012 Olympics.

"I will be trying to improve my weaknesses and will be part of squad in London," she said.

Earlier, Zhang lifted 145 kilograms in the snatch and 176 kilograms in clean and jerk for a winning total of 321.

Kim Un Guk from North Korea took silver with a total of 317 and Indonesia's Eko Yuli Irawan earned bronze at 311.

It was a sweet revenge for Zhang, who was defeated by Kim at the recent world championships in Antalya, Turkey.

"I was suffering from injury at the world championships but I hope we see each other in future events too," Zhang said. "As the saying goes in China: two tigers compete, only one can win."

Zhang was two kilograms behind Kim after the snatch, but left his opponent behind by six kilograms in the clean and jerk.

Like Li, the 23-year-old Zhang was also not entirely happy with his gold medal effort, as he failed in his first attempt at a world record of 182 kilograms in clean and jerk.

"It was not good enough and hopefully I will improve in future," he said.

Zhang said the world record was on his radar and he might make an attempt in the first half of 2011 before tuning up for Olympics in 2012.

"I might attempt 327 or 328 maybe next year if I stay fit," he said.

Kim said he hoped to do better in future competitions.

"I am younger than him (Zhang) and needs to learn from him," said Kim, who is only younger by a year.

Zhang said he was focused on winning gold in his home country after the failure at Antalya.

"My confidence and drills helped me to get the gold," he said.

It was the third gold in as many divisions for China in the weightlifting competition after world champions Wu Jingbiao and Wang Minguan also won gold on the opening day.