News

Heidlyn Diaz was diagnosed to be afflicted with chicken pox

Two chartered planes will bring the bulk of the 317-strong Philippine delegation on Sunday to the 25th Southeast Asian Games to Vientiane, capital of first-time host Laos. Bad news spiked the eve of the delegation's departure. Top weightlifting bet and Olympian Heidlyn Diaz was diagnosed to be afflicted with chicken pox and will not be able to join the delegation. Weightlifting association secretary-general Roger Dullano made the official announcement to the Philippine Olympic Committee early Saturday and delisted the athlete from the roster. "It's very unfortunate because she is the top favorite" said Dullano who added that the challenge just got bigger for the four remaining team

MYANMAR BANK ON SIX WEIGHTLIFTERS AT 25TH SEA GAMES IN LAOS

Myanmar will be banking on six weightlifters to improve on their achievements of one gold, two silver and one bronze they won at the 23rd SEA Games in the Philippines in 2005. With weightlifting not included two years ago in Korat, Myanmar will be hoping that the return of the sport for the Laos edition will improve on the overall medal tally of 14 gold medals, 26 silver and 47 bronzes for them to finish seventh overall. According to the Myanmar Weightlifting Federation (MWF), their three male weightlifters will compete in the men's 56kg, 69kg and 77kg categories while three women will take part in the 58kg, 63kg and 69kg categories. Over the past year, the MWF has trained 19 weightlifters and where their women lifters had spent some time in Shanghai in August to further hone their

Opening ceremony of the Fifth East Asian Games

Red - an auspicious colour for any Chinese occasion - dominated the shores of the harbour this (December 5) evening when the East Asian Games came to roost in Hong Kong for the next nine days.The spectacular opening ceremony was indeed unique. It used Hong Kong's iconic harbour skyline as a backdrop. The cast of a thousand that walked on water - the stage being set on a floating platform - comprised athletes and officials, mega pop stars, dancers, choir singers, oath-takers, a torch bearer relay that lit the cauldron and just about anyone involved in making sure that the 90-minute extravaganza went off without a hitch.The Chief Executive, Mr Donald Tsang, thanked China's State Councillor Liu Yandong and the President of the International Olympic Committee, Count Jacques Rogge, for officiating at the ceremony and said "a new chapter in Hong Kong's sporting history has opened". "With over 2,300 top athletes from nine countries and regions competing, we will be celebrating the cultural diversity, friendship and indomitable spirit of our region," he said. The President of the East Asian Games Association, Mr Timothy Fok, beaming with pride, turned to where the participants were and said: "Enjoy your stay and enjoy the competition events". With bated breath all awaited the simple message of Madam Liu who spoke in Putonghua: "I now declare the Fifth East Asian Games

Four Services lifters in dope net

Even as the International Weightlifting Federation ponders over the quantum of punishment for the Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWF) after a series of positive dope results, some more cases are set to be added to the list.The embarrassment for the country is not just because the number of offenders is set to go up by another four, but also because these new offenders caught by the National Anti Doping Agency (NADA) belong to the Services. The NADA, which is affiliated to the World Anti Doping Agency (WADA), swooped down on an Inter-Services meet recently to discover the use of banned substance 'Nandranol' in the samples taken from four weightlifters, including a past offender. Former national champion E Damadoran, a member of the core group preparing for the Commonwealth Games but one who has also been caught for doping in the past, is the biggest fish. AR Balgun, AK Dubey and V Biju are the others to have tested positive.

North Korean Olympic medalist to enter the East Asian Games

Olympic Champion Pak Hyon Suk and Olympic bronze medalist O Jong Ae did not take part at Goyang City World Championships but their names appeared on the entry list of the East Asian Games. According to the entry list the composition of the Chinese team at the East Asian Games as follows: Men JIANG HAIRONG LIAO HUI LONG QINGQUAN LU YONG TANG DESHANG   Women CAO LEI GUO XIYAN LI PING LI XUEYING LIU CHUNHONG QI XIHUI YANG LIAN  

KeepOurTanker.com named title sponsor of American Open, dec 11-13 in Mobile, Ala.

USA Weightlifting is pleased to announce that KeepOurTanker.com will be the title sponsor of the 2009 American Open, Dec. 11-13 in Mobile, Ala. "We appreciate the support of KeepOurTanker.com and are excited to partner with such a worthy cause at one of our most prestigious events," said USA Weightlifting CEO Rick Adams (Colorado Springs, Colo.) The American Open is an annual event that will draw more than 150 of the top lifters in the United States, including Olympians and World Team members to Mobile. KeepOurTanker.com is supported by Mobile County. The site is designed to keep the public up-to-date on the U.S. Air Force's $40 billion aerial refueling tanker competition and to extol the superiority of the Northrop Grumman/EADS jet. "Sponsoring the weightlifting championship gives us an opportunity to expose the Web site and the tanker issue to all parts of the nation," said Mobile County Commission President Mike Dean. "Competitors will be here from all over the country and fans of weightlifting and Olympic sports worldwide will be following the results." Mobile County Commissioner Merceria Ludgood agreed, stating: "This is a vital issue, not just for a few states, but for the entire country." (USA Weightlifting)