Sukanya claims second Thai gold and snatch record
THAI weightlifters scored an historic double at the Rio Olympics yesterday, when they won gold and silver in the women’s 58-kilogram class.
Sukanya Srisurat handed Thailand its second Rio Games gold medal. The 21-year-old weightlifter from Chon Buri set the Riocentro Pavilion 2 alight with a new Olympic snatch record.
Sukanya lifted 105kg in her first attempt in the snatch and was still successful when she increased the weight to 108kg. In her third attempt, she lifted a new Olympic record of 110kg, erasing the old Olympic standard of 108kg, which was set by China’s Li Xueying at the London Games four years ago.
In the clean and jerk event, Sukanya – who captured two medals including one gold at the 2014 IWF World Champion-ships in Kazakhstan and one bronze at last year’s IWF World Championships in Houston, USA – lifted 130kg in her second attempt.
She failed in her third attempt to lift 132kg. Nevertheless, with the combined lifts of 240kg, Sukanya was the clear favourite to claim the gold medal, Thailand’s second at the Rio Games.
Meanwhile, Pimsiri Sirikaew picked up her second silver medal on Tuesday morning. Pimsiri, 26, who hails from Khon Kaen, lifted an aggregate 232kg in the Olympic Total to claim silver. Lifting 102kg in the snatch, the determined Pimsiri lifted 130kg in her second attempt in the clean and jerk.
The bronze medal went to Taiwan’s Kuo Hsing-Chun, who was a bronze medallist at last year’s IWF World Championships in Houston and gold medallist at the Asian Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan this April. Kuo lifted an aggregate 231kg.
By winning a gold medal at the Rio Games, Sukanya is guaranteed Bt10 million in cash incentives from the National Sports Development Fund plus a confirmed Bt10 million from Tan Passakornnatee, a Thai businessman best known as the founder of the Oishi Group of Japanese restaurants. Silver medallist Pimsiri stands to pick up Bt6 million.
“For all Thai people”
As well, sponsors and private sector groups are expected to offer large cash incentives to Sukanya and Pimsiri when they return to Thailand.
Sukanya’s success made her the fifth women weightlifter from Thailand to win an Olympic gold medal. Udomporn Polsak and Pawina Thongsuk were the first two Thais to claim gold at the 2004 Athens Games. Prapawadee Jaroenrattanatarakoon won the third gold for the country at the 2008 Beijing Games, with the fourth gold coming from Sopita Tanasan, who lifted hearts the day before yesterday with her victory.
After the awards presentation on Tuesday, Sakanya said, “I’m very glad to win gold and it’s a gold medal for all Thai people.
“Ahead of the competition, I was a bit excited, but just held my nerve. I never thought that I’d set a new Olympic snatch record because during the competition I just concentrated on my lifting. My best performance in the snatch is 111kg.
“I have reached where I am now because I’ve trained very, very hard. It’s with great pride that I win gold for my beloved country. I have yet decided how to manage the cash incentives I will receive, but I prefer to work in the Royal Thai Navy.”
Picking up her silver medal, Pimsiri said, “I’ve done my best. I’m happy to return with a medal although it’s silver, the same medal I won in London.”
The Rio-bound Thai weightlifting squad has already surpassed its best |performances of two gold and two bronze medals at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.
Thailand has another gold-medal prospect in Siripuch Gulnoi, who is due to contest the women’s 63kg early today. |She claimed the women’s 58kg bronze at |the London Games and a bronze medal at the 2014 Incheon Asian Games.
