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Women’s 63 kg: The pressure on Tsarukaeva (RUS)

Liu Haixia (CHN) Tsarukaeva (RUS) Pak Hyon-suk(PRK) With the absence of Chinese world champion Liu Haixia, Tsarukaeva is the favourite as her best is beyond the capability of other lifters.She is the silver medalist of last year WC.Among her main rivals Pak Hyon-suk(PRK) is on the first place. She got third position of last year WC. She can be a real threat for the Russian lifter.They seem to present a fierce competition in this category.Two women of Kazakhstan, Nekrassova and Maneza nominated the highest entry total. This pair can be the dark horse

Men’s 62 kg Press conference quotes

Zhang Xiang Xiang /CHN/ Diego Salazar /COL/ Triyatno /INA/ Zhang Xiang Xiang /CHN/, gold medalist: "I had a chance to run with the Olympic torch as a relay member. My turn came a day later, 13th of May as the tragical earthquake we suffered. This experience helped me a lot in my training and finally to win the gold medal. I could not be in sure in this victory as I was not sure about my entry at all. It was announced just very shortly before the Games started. I think our management decision was a good one to select me." Diego Salazar /COL/, silver medalist: "You can list on the score sheet, it tells everything. I was the only one on the field of 62 kg whose all the 6 attempts were good." Triyatno /INA/, bronze medalist: "My friend's, Irawan's medal won yesterday had a great influence on me. My hand got injured during the snatch. The first discipline made me very tired. These were the reasons I failed my first two attempts in clean and jerk. Who remembers of these mistakes. Here I am with a bronze medal."

Men’s 62 kg: China’s fourth gold out of five

  Zhang Xiangxiang (CHN) China's fourth victory was managed by Zhang Xiangxiang who won his first Olympic gold medal after lifting 319kg in the Men's 62 kg. Twenty-five-year old Zhang (Sydney bronze medalist) had the best start by lifting 139kg in the snatch. Although he failed to lift 143kg with his second attempt, he finally succeeded and led the list after the first discipline. Ji Hun-min (KOR) also did well with a 142kg lift. Diego Salazar (COL) and Im Yong-su (PRK) tied at 138kg.Zhang's chance for final victory was settled even before stepping onto the podium in the clean and Jerk. First Ji surprisingly failed all three attempts trying to lift 161kg. Then the other Korean, Im also stumbled under the pressure, spending all his attempts at 169kg to no avail. Salazar took his chance and succeeded in lifting 167kg for the silver medal. Zhang then lifted 169kg and 176kg to seal his first gold. He also tried to break the world record, with no success.Indonesia's Triyatno earned the bronze with a total weight of 298kg. Diego Salazar (COL) Triyatno

Women’s 58 kg press conference quotes

Chen Yanqing (CHN) O Jong Ae (PRK),Marina Shainova (RUS) Chen Yanqing (CHN), gold medallist: "I did not try to break the world record as they belong to me in snatch and in total and I was just focusing on the gold medal which was much more important today. The difference between my two gold medals is that the first one I won for myself, but the second one for my supporters who helped me a lot. During the four years between the Olympics I wanted to finish my career and retire three times but my coach and my supporters always forced me to act on the contrary. After Athens Games I really thought I stopped lifting. At that time I did not think I was among the gold medallist in Beijing. I do not think I want to share my plans for the future now." Marina Shainova (RUS), silver medallist: "I have mixed feeling. Of course I am very happy because of my silver, but the result might have been better. The last attempt helped me to win second place and I can not recall how I lifted that last weight.Gold is gold, and I reckon that it is possible to defeat Chen next time." O Jong Ae (PRK), bronze medallist: "Everyone wants gold, but at this time I must confess Chen was indeed stronger than me.But next time I want to win gold medal, independently how Chen decides about her future as a lifter.Today I was very disappointed with my score.I wanted to bring joy to the people of my nation, but I failed to do so, I feel sorry for them."

The first four categories all brought new records!

O Jong Ae Chen was as successful to break Olympic records as she was four years ago in Athens. At that time she set up new Olympic records in snath and total, today she rewrote the list in clean and jerk and in total. But first O Jong Ae could be very proud of her attempt of 131 kg as the highest ever jerked weight in this category at Olympics. But she had no more words as Chen came to grab the record by 132 kg first, bringing a new Olympic record in total of 238 kg as well. The previous one was set up by herself in Athens by 237 kg. She was not satisfied enough with this brilliant result as she knew well those were far from her capacity. This strength and confidence resulted 138 kg in clean and jerk and 244 kg in total.New Olympic records! Five all together within quarter of an hour!   Chen

Women’s 58 kg: A new chapter in women’s Olympic history.

Chen Yanqing (CHN) Escobar (ECU) As expected became the first woman winning two Olympic gold medals in weightlifting. She won in the same category like in Athens in 2004, at this time at this time adding new Olympic records in clean and jerk and in total. Lifting with great confidence the Chinese lifter took an unquestionable lead after snatch by 106 kg.Chen completed a perfect competition with six succesful attempts to reach 138 kg in the clean and jerk and total of 244 kg.After snatch Escobar (ECU) followed Chen by 7 kg difference. It was a great achievement as she had missed her opening attempt on 96 kg.Kameain (THA) had the third position before clean and jerk. Shainova (RUS) O Jong Ae (PRK) The second part of the competition, rewrote the order of the lifters behind Chen. Shainova (RUS) had an unbelievable final lift with 129 kg to secure her second place. She could not stop crying after her wonderful performence giving her the silver medal. O Jong Ae (PRK) who had been on the sixth place after the snatch, then set an Olympic record of 131 kg in clean and jerk to grab the bronze from the Thai lifter. The North Korean lifter had lighter body weight resulting her a medal.This was one of the most enjoyable competitons during the last three days.