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WEIGHTLIFTING: Chinese teen Long takes the gold

Taiwan’s Yang Chin-yi competes in the men’s 56 kg weightlifting event at the Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics Gymnasium in Beijing yesterday. PHOTO: AFP

Seventeen-year-old Long Qingquan took China’s second weightlifting gold yesterday, winning the men’s 56kg category by lifting 292kg in his international debut.

Hoang Anh Tuan of Vietnam finished second just 2kg behind, with Indonesia’s Eko Irawan grabbing the bronze.

The home crowd chanted and waved Chinese flags as Long lifted 132kg in the snatch and 160kg in the clean and jerk. He only failed one lift — his final clean and jerk at 164 kgs when the gold was already in the bag.

Chen Xiexia won China’s first gold medal in the Beijing Games when she dominated the women’s 53kg competition on Saturday.

Despite his young age, Long was the favorite in the 56kg division after a strong performance at the Chinese team trials earlier this year.

He took command of the competition right from the start, cruising through the snatch event with three solid lifts. He didn’t look quite as powerful in the clean and jerk, only managing a tie with Hoang, who waved his fists in joy after making 160kg in his final attempt to grab the silver.

Only the combined score counts for medals in Olympic weightlifting.

World champion Cha Kum-kol of North Korea only managed fifth place. He nearly bombed out in the snatch, but saved face by barely clearing 128kg in his last attempt.

He failed his first clean and jerk, wobbling too much to get the white lights from the referees. He wobbled again in his second attempt, grimacing and grunting, but pulled it off. His legs almost folded as he walked off the stage.

They did fold, however, in his final lift, as Cha fell backward and pushed the bar in front of him, sending 160kg crashing to the ground.
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