Zhao Breaks Snatch World Record at Asian Weightlifting Championships
Home favorite Zhao Jinhong delivered an inspiring performance in the women's 45kg category on the first day of the Asian Weightlifting Championships in Jiangshan, east China's Zhejiang Province, breaking the snatch world record twice while...
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Home favorite Zhao Jinhong delivered an inspiring performance in the women's 45kg category on the first day of the Asian Weightlifting Championships in Jiangshan, east China's Zhejiang Province, breaking the snatch world record twice while also claiming the clean & jerk and total gold medals.
Recently-crowned world champion Zhao wasted no time asserting her dominance, opening with 80 kilograms in the snatch to secure top honors on her first attempt. Not content to rest on her laurels, she upped the ante to 88 kilograms, aiming to eclipse the world record of 87 kilograms previously set by the DPRK's Won Hyon Sim. After breaking that mark with crisp precision, Zhao raised the bar to 90 kilograms for her third lift, and refreshed the world record once again.
The newly-minted owner of the snatch, clean & jerk, and total world record in the division continued her march in the clean & jerk, opening with 100 kilograms, the highest mark on the day, to clinch another gold. On her second attempt, she pushed the bar to 111 kilograms, aiming to exceed her own total world record of 200 kilograms. Two failed lifts tempered the bid, but Zhao's haul of three golds in the snatch, clean & jerk, and total remained unchallenged.
"My goal was to break the snatch world record, and I'm glad I achieved that," Zhao said afterward. "When I challenged the clean & jerk record, I wasn't quite as fired up, my energy dipped, and the glaring lights unsettled me, causing me to lose my footing. That's why I couldn't complete the lift."
In the men's 55kg category, the modest field of six contenders belied the ferocity of the competition. China's Wang Weidong stumbled out of the gate in the snatch, with his opening lift of 115 kilograms waved off due to a bent elbow, a technical blemish that cost him dearly. The 21-year-old went on to nail his next two attempts at 115 and 119, but the initial misstep meant he squandered a crucial opportunity and ultimately settled for silver.
Vietnam's Lai Gia Thanh was flawless by contrast, cleanly hoisting all of his snatch attempts up to a personal best of 120 kilograms to edge out Wang for gold.
But the final was far from over. Wang roared back in the clean & jerk, hoisting 142 kilograms on his first try, an effort that not only clinched the gold but also nudged his total one kilogram ahead of Lai. Pushing his limits even further, Wang summoned every ounce of strength for a final lift of 146 kilograms, bringing his combined total to 265 kilograms. That sealed both the clean & jerk and overall gold medals.
Camille Lefevre for TROIB News
Recently-crowned world champion Zhao wasted no time asserting her dominance, opening with 80 kilograms in the snatch to secure top honors on her first attempt. Not content to rest on her laurels, she upped the ante to 88 kilograms, aiming to eclipse the world record of 87 kilograms previously set by the DPRK's Won Hyon Sim. After breaking that mark with crisp precision, Zhao raised the bar to 90 kilograms for her third lift, and refreshed the world record once again.
The newly-minted owner of the snatch, clean & jerk, and total world record in the division continued her march in the clean & jerk, opening with 100 kilograms, the highest mark on the day, to clinch another gold. On her second attempt, she pushed the bar to 111 kilograms, aiming to exceed her own total world record of 200 kilograms. Two failed lifts tempered the bid, but Zhao's haul of three golds in the snatch, clean & jerk, and total remained unchallenged.
"My goal was to break the snatch world record, and I'm glad I achieved that," Zhao said afterward. "When I challenged the clean & jerk record, I wasn't quite as fired up, my energy dipped, and the glaring lights unsettled me, causing me to lose my footing. That's why I couldn't complete the lift."
In the men's 55kg category, the modest field of six contenders belied the ferocity of the competition. China's Wang Weidong stumbled out of the gate in the snatch, with his opening lift of 115 kilograms waved off due to a bent elbow, a technical blemish that cost him dearly. The 21-year-old went on to nail his next two attempts at 115 and 119, but the initial misstep meant he squandered a crucial opportunity and ultimately settled for silver.
Vietnam's Lai Gia Thanh was flawless by contrast, cleanly hoisting all of his snatch attempts up to a personal best of 120 kilograms to edge out Wang for gold.
But the final was far from over. Wang roared back in the clean & jerk, hoisting 142 kilograms on his first try, an effort that not only clinched the gold but also nudged his total one kilogram ahead of Lai. Pushing his limits even further, Wang summoned every ounce of strength for a final lift of 146 kilograms, bringing his combined total to 265 kilograms. That sealed both the clean & jerk and overall gold medals.
Camille Lefevre for TROIB News
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