Pawina Thongsuk of Thailand won women's 75kg weightlifting gold medal with a total of 272.5kg and set a new world record in the jerk on Friday at the Athens Olympics.

The 25-year-old Pawina Thongsuk, ranked fourth in the 2003 Worlds in the 69kg class, made her first appearance in the 75kg class in Athens. She became the second female Olympic champion in Thailand after her teammate Udomporn Polsak snatch the women's 53kg.

"I am pleased with the medal I won. The competition was hard, but in the end I was successful," Thongsuk told reporters.

The 19-year-old Nntalia Zabolotnaia of Russia, who took the silver due to bodyweight difference from Thongsuk as both lifted a total of 272.5kg, created the new world records in the snatch and total.

"I was sure I could win the silver medal, although I really wanted the gold. I tried, but not successfully," said Zabolotnaia.

Sydney silver medalist Valentina Popova of Russia, 32, lifted a total of 265.kg to catch the bronze. She competed for the very first time in the middle-heavyweight category.

"I fell very good about the medal, but injuries held me back," said Popova.

Thongsuk did not hold an advantage in the snatch by finishing her third attempt with 122.5kg.

Natalia Zabolotnaia,who won the European championship in 2003, led the way in the snatch and managed to lift 125.0kg in her second attempt, seeing off the previous world record of 122.5kg, set by Thongsuk in her third attempt.

In the clean and jerk, Thongsuk went on lifting 150kg as Zabolotnaia made 147.5 kg in her second attempt to set a new world record in total of 272.5kg.

Both Thougsuk and Zabolotnaia failed in the third attempt.

"I am quite happy to win the second gold medal for my country because I can let the whole world know that the weightlifting in Thailand is strong," Thongsuk added.