Chen Yanqing

Chen Yanqing of China came out of retirement to set five world weightlifting records at the 15th Asian Games Doha 2006. She convincingly won the 58kg women’s event at Al-Dana Banquet Hall and clinched China’s fourth consecutive weightlifting gold medal.

Chen, the 2004 Olympic champion, opened the snatch portion of the competition with a lift of 103kg. She then hoisted 108kg on her second attempt and raised 111kg on her third attempt to beat the pervious snatch world record of 110kg set in 2003 by Wang Li, also from China.

The 27-year old struggled in the clean portion of the clean and jerk, but managed to set a total of four world records in three lifts. In her first attempt in the clean and jerk Chen hoisted 131kg for a total of 242kg, 1kg over Chinese compatriot Gu Wei’s total world record. On her second attempt, she lifted 137kg to set a new total world record of 248kg.

On her third and final attempt, Chen struggled mightily to get the bar to the clean position, before finally raising 140kg above her head. She received three white lights from the judges but, more importantly, Chen picked up two new world records – 140kg in the clean and jerk and 251kg in the total.

Her nearest competitors both lifted a total of 224kg. Wandee Kameaim of Thailand lifted 98kg in the snatch and 126kg in the clean and jerk to the delight of some extremely vocal Thai supporters. Pak Hyon Suk of DPR Korea produced an upset to lift 97kg in the snatch and 127kg in the clean and jerk.

Even though they both lifted 224kg, Kameaim took the silver and Pak claimed the bronze on the grounds that Pak weighs 0.33kgh more than Kameaim

Chen Yanqing

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