Sopita hands Thailand first Olympic gold in Rio
Powerful weightlifter Sopita Tanasan got Thailand off to a brilliant start in the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, making the country proud by winning the first gold medal in the women’s 48kg event after lifting an aggregate 200 kilogrames.
A total of 12 weightlifters took part in the event at the Riocentro - Pavilion 2, but powerhouses China did not send any competitor in this class including their strongest contender in world champion Chinese Jiang Huihua.
The 22-year-old from Champion, who made her presence felt in the Olympic Games in Rio, had no pressure while snatching 91kg and 109kg in the clean and jerk for an aggregate 200kg in the Olympic Total, relegating closest rival Sri Wahyuni Agustiani from Indonesia and Japan’s Hiromi Miyake to the second and third places with total lifts of 192kg and 188kg respectively.
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