Asian weightlifters will become more competitive in Beijing Olympic Games after they took nine gold medals in Athens, a top official of the Asian Weightlifting Federation (AWF) said in Tianjin municipality on December 10.

"Asian lifters earned nine gold medals in Athens Olympics, which was much more than we had expected.

The outcome proved our supremacy over our counterparts and potentials in this sport. I believe they will work harder in the next four years and hopefully win more gold medals in 2008," said general secretary of AWF Ali Moradi.

Asian Hercules charged nine out of a total of 15 gold medals in the Games including five from China and two from Thailand, which was three more than they got four years ago in Sydney.

"Our lifters showed the world in Athens that Asian weightlifting was very strong. AWF will continue to offer more international competitions to the young-studded teams in preparation for Beijing Olympics."

The ongoing Asian Inter-club Weightlifting Championships here is one step to cradle future Olympic champions.

The annual championships since 2000, slated for December 9-15, has been attracting twelve countries and regions including Bangladesh, Iran, Iraq, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Mongolia, Singapore, Thailand, Uzbekistan, South Korea, Macao SAR and China.

"The championships, especially the junior championships, is a hotbed for future Olympic winners in Asia. The 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing is not only important for China, but also for the whole Asia.

These young lifters here are Asia's weightlifting future in 2008." said Moradi.

Source: Xinhua