Heavyweight champ of the world
China's Zhou hoists greatest weight ever by a woman; Thailand's Chitchanok picks up bronze
Chitchanok Pulsabsakul made amends for her disappointing 2010 Asiad by lifting a total 292kg to take the bronze medal in the women’s weightlifting over-75kg class yesterday. But her effort was overshadowed by superheavyweight Olympic champion Zhou Lulu, who hoisted the largest single weight ever by a woman to give China a seventh Asian Games gold medal.
Nakhon Sawan native Chitchanok, who was fifth at the Guangzhou Games four years ago, snatched 131kg and jerked 161kg for third place. Chinese Zhou Lulu won the gold with a new Games and world record of 334kg while Kazakh Mariya Grabovetskaya won the silver with 302kg.
“Actually I didn’t come to South Korea with too much expectation. I was thinking of my mum and dad when I lifted the barbells. I’m so happy to finally make it,” said Chitchanok, who intended to give the Bt200,000 incentive money from the government to her parents.
“My next goal is to produce good results in the World Championships to earn a ticket to the Olympics in Brazil. I want an Olympics medal around my neck.”
Her bronze medal was the third for the Thai weightlifters after Rattikan Gulnoi and Chatuphum Chinnawong won bronzes in the women’s 58kg and men’s 77kg respectively.
Meanwhile Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said the government has prepared over Bt300 million in incentives for medallists. According to the Sports Development Programme, gold silver and bronze medallists will be awarded Bt1 million, Bt500,000 and Bt200,000 respectively.
“Let’s give moral support to all Thai athletes, as well as those from other nations, as they enjoy this opportunity to showcase their exceptional skills developed through hard work and training. Medals are indeed the symbol of triumph, but their sportsmanship, commitment, discipline and respect for the rules are the true symbols of their achievement – which I believe is more important. I wish all the Thai athletes success in both triumph and achievement, and wish you to be good examples to all. The government has prepared over bt300 million in rewards for our athletes and all those involved,” the PM said during his weekly TV address to the nation last night.
After Yannaphon Larp-Aparat won the men’s singles in bowling, Thailand is unlikely to win another gold medal until tomorrow.
The sepak takraw men’s team is expected to accomplish that mission when they will play South Korea in the final tomorrow. The women’s team, the other gold medal prospects, take on Vietnam in today’s semi-finals.
