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Preview On Today's Women's weightliftingWomen's weightlifting will take centre stage on Monday, Day three of Olympic competition.Asian countries have dominated women's weightlifting in recent years with China, Chinese Taipei and India boasting world champions in the seven contested weight divisions. Astonishingly, Chinese lifters hold 16 of the 21 women's world records. The two weight classes to be contested Monday, the Women's 53kg (14:30) and 58kg class (18:30) will be no exception. Feng-Ying LI (TPE), formerly of China, and Xia YANG (CHN) are expected to challenge for the gold medal in the 53kg class. LI outclassed her rivals at the World Championships in November, breaking the world clean and jerk record (121.5kg) along the way. YANG, a silver medallist at those championships competing in a higher weight category (58kg class), will drop back a division in an attempt to win gold. Others to look out for include, Japan's Mari NAKAGA and Indian pair Sanamacha CHANU (Asian champion) and Winarni SLAMET (world championship silver medallist). World clean and jerk record holder Ri SONG HUI (PRK) is favourite to take gold in the Women's 58kg class. In the absence of world champion Yanqing CHEN (CHN), SONG HUI looks a class above her rivals. Due to China's amazing depth and the fact each country can only select four athletes, there was always the potential that a gold medal prospect would be left off the team. However, the battle for bronze is wide open. Thailand's Khassarapom SUTA, Canadian Maryse TURCOTTE, Mexican Soraya JIMENEZ MENDIVIL and Poland's Aleksandra KLEJNOWSKA are genuine medal chances. KLEJNOWSKA at just 17 years of age, is still eligible to compete at junior level. With a 20th placing at the world championships, her rise to the top has been meteoric. |
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