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SEA Games, first day with Laos gold

Results:Women 48 kg PRAMSIRI B. (Thailand) - Gold - Total 194NGO THI NGA (Vietnam) - Silver - Total 185ZAIRA (Malaysia) - Bronze - Total 164Women 53 kg KHEUAKHAM (Laos) - Gold - 123 KGRAIHAN (Malaysia) - Silver - 120 KGAYE THANDA LWIN (Myanmar) - Bronze - 119 KGMen 56 kg JADI SETIADI (Indonesia) - Gold - Total 274PYAE PHYO (Myanmar) - Silver - Total 266AMIRUL HAMIZAN (Malaysia) - Bronze - Total

LAOS PRESIDENT HIS EXCELLENCY CHOUMMALY SAYASONE DECLARES 25TH EDITION SEA GAMES OPEN

The rich pageantry of Laos culture were at the forefront this evening as Laos President His Excellency Choummaly Sayasone officially declared open the 25th edition of the SEA Games which the country is playing host to for the first time ever. In a glittering ceremony participated by more than 6,000 performers, the much-anticipated event this evening began with a medley of traditional Laos favourites as it built up to a crescendo with seven unique dances from performers in multi-coloured ethnic costumes at the end. After the arrivals of Laos dignitaries and government leaders which also included the Prime Minister of Cambodia, His Excellency Hun Sen; the Prime Minister of Myanmar, His Excellency Thein Sein; Thailand's Prime Minister, His Excellency Abhisit Vejjajiva and Vietnam's Prime Minister, His Excellency Nguy?n T?n Dung, the speech from Laos Deputy Prime Minister His Excellency Somsavat Lengsavad took place. In his speech, Somsavat said that even though Laos were a founding member of ASEAN in June, 1959, it has not been possible for the country to hosts the biennial SEA Games until now. "Considering that this year marked the 50th Anniversary of ASEAN, it reflected the utmost satisfaction and legitimate pride of the entire Laos nation to be hosts." With that, Laos President His Excellency Choummaly Sayasone declared open the 25th SEA Games as the sky lit up with a splendid display of fireworks before the 16 torch bearers took part in the lighting of the SEA Games flame. The last torch bearer was Laos' national hero Phoxay Aphailatho, who earned the country a silver medal in wushu at the 2006 Asian Games, as an archer shot an alighted arrow from some 50metres out to light the cauldron. Then, the contingent of the 11 participating countries were ushered in by the Laos Police Band with Brunei Darussalam at the start with 79 athletes and officials, Cambodia (204), East Timor (77), Indonesia (465), Malaysia (469), Myanmar (404), Philippines (413), Singapore (392), Thailand (842), Vietnam (671) and finally hosts Laos with 743-strong.(By: WSL MSC Sdn. Bhd. (Malaysia) - ICT Committee)

Registration Now Open for WADA Media Symposium

Registration Now Open for WADA Media Symposium on January 19, 2010, in Lausanne Registration is now open for the World Anti-Doping Agency's (WADA) fifth Media Symposium, to be held on January 19, 2010, at the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland. The Symposium will be an opportunity for the media to hear from WADA's President John Fahey and Director General David Howman in the lead-up to the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games. Both will provide updates on the Agency's global work and mission, as well as the advances and challenges in the fight against doping in sport. In addition, WADA's Education Director Rob Koehler will present the Agency's latest education programs as part of its ever growing emphasis on prevention and youth programs. A provisional program for the day, including logistical details, is now available on WADA's Web site. Click here to access it. To register, participants are requested to send the following details to WADA's Media Relations & Communications Senior Manager Frédéric Donzé at [email protected] before January 11, 2010: • Name• Title• Organization• Mailing address• E-mail address• Phone• Fax Please note that for logistical reasons, registration is mandatory for all participants. WADA Contact for the Media:Frédéric DonzéSenior Manager, Media Relations & CommunicationsTel: +1-514-904-8820E-mail: [email protected]  

China’s weightlifters were not at their peak at the East Asian Games

China's star weightlifters were not at their peak at the ongoing East Asian Games in Hong Kong, but tried their best, head coach of China's national team of men's weightlifting said Wednesday. Speaking on the sidelines of the 5th East Asian Games, ChenWenbin said the performance of the Chinese weightlifters, including at least five Olympic gold medalists and a number of world champions, was "so far as good as it can be". Most of the world champions, like Yang Lian, Long Qingquan, LuYong, took the gold medals at the East Asian Games, but young athletes including Tang Deshang and Li Xueying lost against lifters from South Korea and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. "Li was so tired after taking part in the National Games in October and the World Weightlifting Championships in South Korea in late November," Chen said. Chen said the Chinese team was trying to go for what they could at the moment but will try to avoid any injuries. "The lifters could typically get injuries when they were tired," said Ma Wengguang, the Chinese team leader. Liao Hui, an Olympic gold medalist for the men's 69kg category, competed in the 77kg category on Wednesday to avoid frequently losing weight in a short period of time. Liao, however, managed to lift 196kg in clean and jerk, a load heavier than what he lifted at the National Games and the World Championships. Ma said the 2012 Olympics were by far the most important competition next for the Chinese team. Chen said that the results at the East Asian Games were farbelow those at the Olympic Games or the World Championships and that he saw no major rising threats. In comparison, the DPR Korean weightlifters prepared well and they were significantly strong, he added.  

Lu Yong confident to lift heavier load in future

W 63 kg 1 PRK PAK Hyon Suk 1 110 1 137 247.0 GR Jerk, GR 2 MAC LIU Xia 3 103 2 118 221.0   3 CHN GUO Xiyan 2 110 3 110 220.0 GR Snatch M 77 kg   1 KOR KIM Kwanghoon 2 153 1 199 352.0 GR Jerk 2 CHN LIAO Hui 1 155 2 196 351.0 GR Jerk 3 PRK PANG Kum Chol 3 151 3 180 331.0   M 85 kg   1 CHN LU Yong 1 170 1 200 370.0 GR Snatch 2 KOR CHEON Jeongpyung 3 148 2 185 333.0   3 JPN YOSHIOKA Yuji 2 150 3 170 320.0 GR Games record   Lu Yong confident to lift heavier load in future     Chinese Olympic weightlifting gold medallist Lu Yong said on Wednesday that he has confidence in the possibility for him to lift a heavier load in the future.     "My weightlifting results in training have surpassed the world records. I believe I can still improve my results significantly in the next few years given my current health and experience," he said after taking gold for the 85kg category of men's weightlifting at the ongoing East Asian Games on Wednesday.     Lu, 23, lifted 170kg in snatch and 200kg in clean and jerk, both far ahead of the runner-up.     Cheon Jeong-pyung of South Korea took silver with a combined weight of 333kg, and Japan's Yuji Yoshioka took the bronze medal at 320kg.     The existing snatch world record for the 85kg men's weightlifting is 187kg, the clean and jerk 218kg and the combined total, 394kg.     Lu said he was trying to "show the best of the Chinese weightlifting" despite exhaustion after recent frequent participation in weightlifting competitions including the National Games and the World Championships.     China won four of the nine gold medals in the first three weightlifting competition days at the 5th East Asian Games. Several relatively inexperienced lifters, however, lost when competing against their rivals from South Korea and the Democratic People's Republic of

Passing of Asiri de Silva

It is with great sadness that I inform you all of the untimely passing of young Asiri De Silva from Sri Lanka . We all remember that only a few weeks ago, young Asiri won the silver medal in the Junior 105+kg category at the Commonwealth Championships in Penang , Malaysia . It is indeed a tragedy to lose this young man in the prime of his life. On behalf of the Commonwealth Weightlifting Federation we extend our deepest sympathies to the De Silva family and also to the Sri Lankan Weightlifting Federation. (Paul Coffa General SecretaryCommonwealth Weightlifting