In front of an enthusiastic home crowd in Fuzhou, 18-year-old weightlifting prodigy Yang Liuyue from southeast China’s Fujian Province clinched two gold medals at the Chinese Women’s Weightlifting National Championships on Saturday.
Competing in the fiercely contested 64-kilogram division, Yang faced off against 20-year-old Li Shuang from Chongqing Municipality. The pair turned the event into a thrilling head-to-head battle, captivating spectators with their impressive lifts.
In the snatch category, Li opened with a strong 104kg lift, but Yang edged ahead by hoisting 105kg. Li attempted 109kg on her second try, yet Yang maintained her lead with a successful 110kg lift. Both athletes aimed for 112kg in their final attempts but were unsuccessful. Yang’s 110kg lift not only secured her the snatch title but also matched the domestic junior record.
The competition intensified during the clean and jerk. Both Yang and Li began with solid 110kg lifts, securing their qualification for the upcoming 15th National Games of China in November. Yang showcased her strength by successfully lifting 130kg, while Li struggled with two unsuccessful attempts at 135kg. Although the clean and jerk gold went to Zhejiang’s Liu Meishi, who lifted 131kg, Yang’s total of 240kg earned her the overall gold medal. Li finished closely behind with a total of 237kg.
Yang’s remarkable performance highlights her as a rising star in China’s weightlifting scene, setting high expectations for her future competitions on both national and international stages.
