Shi Zhiyong of China celebrates at the awarding ceremony of the men's 69KG weightlifting group A final at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Aug. 9, 2016. Shi Zhiyong won the gold medal with 352KG. (Xinhua/Cheng Min)
Chinese weightlifters showed their power as Deng Wei broke world records in the women's 63kg category and Shi Zhiyong overcame strong opponents to collect the second weightlifting golds on offer on Tuesday.
Shi, winner at the world championships in 2015, snatched 162kg and jerked 190kg with a total of 352kg. The 22-year-old challenged his compatriot Liao Hui's total world record of 359kg in his last attempt by jerking 198kg, but failed.
"This is not just important for me, but for my whole team. I would like to dedicate this medal to my team and coaches who give me confidence, love, courage and support," Shi said.
European champion Daniyar Ismayilov of Turkey claimed the silver at 351kg as he took the lead in the snatch but could not keep the momentum in the jerk.
"I came here to break a record but at least I got a silver medal," Ismayilov said.
"I was focusing on gold but it did not work out for me. I will compete in the next Olympic Games," He added.
The bronze went to Izzat Artykov of Kazakhstan with a total of 339kg.
Earlier on Tuesday, Deng, world champion in 2014 and 2015, came into the clean and jerk competition with a four-kilo buffer in the snatch. After jerking 138kg in her first attempt, she had already won the gold medal with a total of 253kg as other opponents had finished all their lifts.
Then the 23-year-old lifter began her solo in the fifth attempts, putting an ambitious 147kg above her head steadily for a total of 262kg, breaking two world records in jerk and total by one kilo respectively.
"I came here for breaking the world record. I am very excited and very thrilled to win this medal," Deng said.
Choe Hyo Sim of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, bronze medalist at the world championships in 2015, clinched the silver medal at 248kg while Karina Goricheva of Kazakhstan, third in 2015 world ranking, grabbed the bronze at 243kg.
Before Tuesday's competition, Long Qingquan won the first weightlifting gold for China in the men's 56kg category.
