News

First gold could make Chen a millionaire

According to one recent report, Chen Xiexia, who won China's first gold medal in Beijing, will receive as much as 10 million yuan for the feat. A variety of sources is sure to make her China's next millionaire. The General Administration of Sports of China will award each Chinese gold medallist 250000 yuan (36447 US dollars), an increase of 50000 yuan over the Athens Games. But That is just the beginning. Awards from athlete's home provinces and other sources are likely to be much more lucrative. The Fok Ying Tung Foundation has awarded every Chinese gold medalist since 1984 one kilogram of gold and 80000 US dollars.Also, Chinese athletes who earn cash rewards or other prizes as a result of success at the Games will be exempt from individual income tax. All told, the total for a gold medal is expected to be at least 1.5 million yuan. According to published reports, Singapore will award 500000 euros (752377 US dollars), the gratest reward for a gold medal at the Beijing Games, compared with Japan's 19000 euros and Germany's 15000 euros. (China Daily)

Preview men’s 62 kg Double Delight for China tonight?

Zhang Xiangxiang /CHN/ Im Yong Su /PRK/2007 Thailand Figueroa /COL/2007 Thailand Zhang Xiangxiang /CHN/ leads the category ahead of last year's WC silver medallist Im Yong Su /PRK/ and Pan American Champion Figueroa /COL/. Zhang moved up from 56 kg, where he won bronze medal at the Sydney Games in 2000. He achieved his bet total of 320 kg at the Chinese national team trials in April. Im will provide a though opposition as he is a world champion of 2002 and silver meadallist of 2007. Bazarbayev /TKM/ for his third Olympics may break through for his first medal. The surprise of the night could be Hansawong of Thailand due to his big improvement during the lat year.

Preview women’s 58 kg Chen /CHN/ aims for double gold first

Chen Yanqing, the Olympic title holder aims to become the first woman to win two gold medals in weightlifting.She holds the world record in snatch /111 kg/ and total /251 kg/ placing her ahead of her rivals. She already won her first world championships title in 1999.   The competition for silver and bronze medals will be between Shainova /RUS/, Kameaim/THA/,O Jong Ae /PRK/ Shainova /RUS/ Kameaim/THA/ O Jong Ae /PRK/ The European contender is a three time European champion and has totalled above 230 kg. Shainova is silver medallist at WC /2007/. Kameaim is a regular medallist at major championships. She is the bronze medallist of Athens Olympics. She has great experience means a lot in this tight

Men’s 56 kg Press conference quotes

Long Qingquan /CHN/, gold medallist: "I deserve to win the gold medal because I have worked very hard. I expected it in a way, but I am surprised at the same time. Since I was given the chance I wanted to cherish and win. I regret not being successful at my last clean and jerk attempt, but it doen not matter. Next time I will definitely break Mutlu's record"   Anh Tuan Hoang /VIE/, silver medallist: "I have tried my best to prepare for the Games because I did not win a medal 4 years ago in Athens. I did not go anywhere for three month and just practised so that today I could stand on the podium.It is the first medal for a male from Vietnam. It moved me a lot. I would like to compete against Long again. There is a saying: you will be stronger when your rival is storng. He is very strong and I have to work harder to catch up with him." Eko Yuli Irawan /INA/: bronze medallist: "I feel very happy because it is the first time for an Indonesian male to win a medal in weightlifting. I wish to fight against Long as I have not heard of him before, but it is time to know him

Men’s 56 kg new Mutlu on the scene?

Seventeen-year-old Chinese Long Qingquan became the new Olympic champion of 56 kilogram class after lifting a total of 292kg.The top favourite, last year's world Champion Cha Kum Chol of DPRK, missed his first two attempts in the snatch trying to lift 128kg. He finally succeeded, but already trailed behind Eko Yuli Irawan of Indonesia who lifted 130kg after three.Vietnamese Hoang Anh Tuan took two attempts to achieve the same result his Indonesian rival, 130kg.After three attempts, Long Qingquan lifted 132kg as the new junior world record for the snatch.Long started lifting 155kg with his first attempt, but was quickly matched by Hoang and Irawan. Long went on to a decisive finish at 160kg. Hoang reaction with the same weight came soon, but only succeeded after his third attempt. Long won the final with a total of 292kg, another world junior record. Runner-up Hoang Anh Tuan became the second Vietnamese athlete ever to win an Olympic medal, and bronze medalist Eko Yuli Irawan grabbed the first Olympic Weightlifting medal in his country's history among men.

PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES WOMEN’S 53 KG.

Prapawadee Jaroenrattanatarakoon /THA/, Gold medallist: "Last year I failed in clean and jerk at the WC, but I tried to practice and improve very hard. My goal was the Olympic gold and not the world record in clean and jerk. I am not unhappy because of the failed attempt. I am very happy achieving my final goal.A fortune teller told me I will be successful at the games if I change may name. I changed and I got the gold. But do not think it is so simple." Yong Jinhee /KOR/, Silver medallist: "We are all lucky that Chinese lifter did not start at this competition." Nastassia Novikava /BLR/, Bronze medallist: "My only goal was to do it successfully.I did not think of any medal. My personal coach was not here with me and this fact had a certain effect on my final result."