THURSDAY, March 28, 2024
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Weightlifter Sopita wins first Thai medal at Worlds

Weightlifter Sopita wins first Thai medal at Worlds

Thailand's Sopita Tanasan claimed bronze on a day when China and Azerbaijan fought a fierce battle in the women's 53kg category in the IWF World Weightlifting Championships at Centennial Hall in Wroclaw, Poland on Monday.

The championships started on Sunday, when Chinese Tan Yayun captured the first gold medal after snatching 84kg and jerking 115kg for a total lift of 199kg in the women’s 48kg category. North Korea’s Chun Hwa Ryang lifted 186kg to take silver and Mexico’s Carolina Valencia Hernandez claimed bronze with 181kg.
China grabbed their second gold on Monday when Li Yajun ended level on 221kg with Azerbaijan’s Cristina Iovu in the women’s 53kg category, but took home the gold thanks to her lower body weight. Sopita ensured that Thailand opened their account by grabbing bronze.
In the snatch, Sopita showed strong form, heaving 91kg above her head. But Li and Iovu proved dominant in matching each other with 100kg lifts. It was the same story in the clean and jerk, where the Chinese and Azerbaijani both lifted 121kg to end level with totals of 221kg. However, Li’s lighter body weight won her the gold, while Iovu picked up silver. Sopita’s combined total of 121kg was enough for a place on the podium.
Though the organisers presented medals for every discipline of each weight category – meaning China’s Li made a clean sweep of three golds in the 53kg – only the top three in the Overall event are taken into account for the medal standing.
Sopita, who won one gold plus two silver in the World Junior Weightlifting Championships in Peru early this year, took bronze in  Kittima Sutanan, silver medallist at this year’s Universiade in Russia, took home bronze in the clean and jerk.
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