Thais disappoint but China's Wang puts on master class

Chinese weighlifting great Wang Mingjuan extended her incredible 10-year unbeaten record by totally dominating the field to win her maiden Olympic gold.

Wang’s gold medal ends one of the longest-running anomalies in women’s weightlifting. 

Although the 26-year-old has dominated her scandal-tainted sport for a decade, she was mysteriously omitted from China’s 2004 and 2008 Olympic teams, meaning she had not been able to challenge for the ultimate prize.

During that time Wang – who this year was picked ahead of reigning world champion and compatriot Tian Yuan – won four world championships (2002, 2003, 2005, 2009) and the Asian Games in 2010.

Wang was diplomatic when asked about her absences from the two previous Olympics in Beijing and Athens.

“It’s 70 per cent hard work and 30 per cent luck. I think athletes should believe in the decision-making of our leaders,” she said.

Wang heaped the pressure on herself with a rushed first snatch at 88kg that saw the barbells come crashing to the ground to gasps from fans packed into the sell-out ExCel arena.

But she nailed her second effort with almost military precision.

As the only lifter left in the competition, Wang came back out to produce another fantastic snatch at 91kg, just under twice her own body weight, to give her a 4kg headstart on closest rival Hiromi Miyake of Japan.

Knees, wrists and knuckles bandaged, hair scraped roughly back in a ponytail, and sporting a white t-shirt under her red and yellow outfit, Wang then handed out a masterclass in how to clean and jerk.

Tossing the barbell up with apparent ease, Wang only entered competition with Miyake and eventual bronze medallist Ryand Chun-hwa of North Korea still lifting.

Smiling, she registered a best of 114kg to give her a combined total of 205kg.

“I wasn’t thinking about being caught,” said Wang. “I was just so focused on my own game, I put my heart into every lift and listened to my coach’s instructions to the letter.”

 

Thais suffer

Thailand’s Panida, the 23-year-old from Surin who won bronze in this year’s Asian meet, failed in her first attempt in the snatch event. She tried again to lift 81kg two more times but failed in both the attempts.

Panida was regarded as a strong contender to challenge Wang, having claimed two silver medals in the last year’s world meet. But, she became a surprise casualty.

Young Sirivimon Pramongkol of Thailand finished fourth after battling out with Ryang Chun-hwa for the bronze. She snatched 82kg against the North Korean’s 80kg. However, Ryang came out with a powerful lift of 112kg in the clean and jerk, relegating the Thai 17-year-old had, who lifted 109kg in her third clean and jerk attempt, to fourth place.

“Sirivimon made Thailand proud although she did not win a medal,” Maj Gen Intharat Yodbangtoey, president of the Thai Amateur Weightlifting Association, said.

Tearful Sirivimon said she was disappointed. “I am very upset,” said Sirivimon. “The North Korean lifter just ran away with the bronze. My dream is shattered. I’m still young and I hope to improve my luck,” she added.