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Rezazadeh: I will deliver many Rezazadehs to the world of weightlifting

Under the leadership of former Olympic Champion Rezazadeh reaching the top of the final team ranking Iran could celebrate great successes at the Asian Championships and at the first Youth World championships as well. Hossein Rezazadeh, the world`s strongest man of the years 2000-2006 is in the position of directing the Iranian national teams in all age groups, said about his new state of life : "Fortunately I got used to this situation quickly and now with a very high level of motivation I am trying to work with a new generation in weightlifting sport. I worked with great coaches during my 15 years long career and participated in many great tournaments. The experiences I gained during these years will help me to present new talented and powerful forces". He added : "From the very first day of accepting my new responsibility as a team manager, my aim was serving the young generation of my country and I assure you that I will deliver many Rezazadehs to the community of weightlifting.

Double victory stamps Iran’s overall success in the Youth Men’s World Championships

17-year old Bahador Moulaei took all the gold medals and his compatriot Iranian Gholamreza Asgharkhah (also 17 years of age) collected the silvers in the men's +94kg category at Chiangmai. This double victory helped the Iranian team to a top position in the nations' classification of the 1st Youth World Championships held in Thailand. Russia and China were thus pushed into second and third places, respectively. Already the champion, Young Moulaei tried to make the Championships' only 200-kg lift in the last attempt of the competitions and it was a close miss. With a high attendance exceeding all expectations, the 1st EGAT Youth World Championships - the main Qualification Event for the 2010 Singapore Youth Olympic Games, ended with a Closing Ceremony in true Thai style.

China winning the women’s team classification at Chiangmai

Even a DPR Korean world champion (Kim Kuk Hyang) in the last, the +69kg category could not stop the Chinese women's team taking the top position in the nations' ranking at the 1st EGAT Youth World Championships in Chiangmai, concluding today.In second rank - also having brought a full team of 7 girls - is Russia, with the host Thailand finishing as third best team overall. 

Russians and Kazakhs take over in heavier categories among the Youth

The girls' 69kg could have brought another great duel . However, the local hero, Suwannaratana (17) was so excited in front of the home audience that she was unsuccessful  three times trying to lift 95kg.  This way, Russian Olga Zubova  had an easy victory grabbing all three possible gold medals. In the men's 77kg russia continued to win with Egor Klimanov. In the next category, two Kazakhs won the gold and silver medals with Bersanov beating his team-mate zaichikov by ten kilos in total. On the last competition day (24th May) Chinese Lu Shun scored victory in the 94kg

Youngsters lift in grown-up style at Chiangmai – Youth WWC in progress

Despite their young age (13-17 years old) the competitors of the 1st Youth WWC in Thailand display remarkably high-class lifting in both the boys' and the girls' categories.On the fourth day into the Championships, the Chinese team is still far ahead of the rest of 47 countries participating. Among the youth men, the first three categories were dominated by China before Russia finally taking over the gold in the 69kg.In the girls' division the picture is much more varied: Turkish Okur took the honour among the smallest (44kg) to become the first ever youth world champion woman, followed by Chinese Wang Li (in 48kg) and Minkova of Bulgaria in 53kg. Deng Wei took back the lead with the total gold medal in 58kg and in the 63kg the host Thailand could finally celebrate its first world champion: Srisuwan Darat.The competitions can be followed online - live scoreboard and results.  

Media Attention Disrupts Olympic Champion’s Training

Weightlifting world champion Jang Mi-ran held a pen in her hand instead of a barbell as she called call for "less media attention,'' so that she can concentrate on training. Jang, who is preparing for the World Weightlifting Championships to be held in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, in November, sent a two-page written appeal to media outlets Friday. She started with her gratitude, saying, "Since the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, many people recognize me and I have been invited to numerous events. I accepted the invitations in return for public attention as far as the events did not disturb my training schedules.'' But she said that some event organizers publicized her participation without her consent, and that media reports sometimes caused problems. "Recent media reports said that I was appointed as honorary ambassador for an anti-second-hand smoking campaign, organized by Seoul City, and would take part in the campaign ceremony. But I've never heard about the appointment and the city has never proposed it to me. I protested to Seoul City and the marketing company, but they just passed the buck to each other,'' Jang said. Besides that campaign, there have been several other reports since the Olympic Games that she is taking part in events - without her knowledge and acceptance. "If event organizers ask me to come without prior agreement, I cannot because I have to train every day. I'm worried that if I do not participate, people may think I am irresponsible,'' she said. Jang said that she will seek legal action if such a situation arises again. "I think training harder to keep the world's top position will be the best way for me to contribute to the development of Korea's weightlifting,'' she said. (Kim Rahn, Korea