Chinese weightlifter Li Dayin showcased his exceptional talent at the Asian Weightlifting Championships in Quzhou, east China’s Zhejiang Province, on Monday, clinching the men’s 89-kilogram snatch gold medal despite battling a severe back injury.
Li, the Asian record holder, dominated the snatch event by successfully lifting 170 kilograms and then 176 kilograms. His closest competitor, Ro Kwang Ryol of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), secured silver with a lift of 168 kilograms.
Nineteen-year-old teammate Pan Yunhua delivered an impressive performance, lifting 163 kilograms in the snatch to finish fifth. In the clean & jerk, Pan demonstrated resilience and determination, lifting 209 kilograms and setting a new Asian junior record. His total of 372 kilograms earned him the silver in the clean & jerk and bronze overall.
In the clean & jerk, Li faced challenges due to his back injury, managing to lift 203 kilograms, which earned him the bronze in that category and a silver overall with a total of 379 kilograms. Ro dominated the clean & jerk with a lift of 212 kilograms, claiming gold in both the clean & jerk and overall categories with a total of 380 kilograms.
In the men’s 81kg division, China’s Luo Chongyang opened with an impressive snatch lift of 160 kilograms, the highest of the competition. Despite a slip on his first attempt, he successfully lifted 162 kilograms on his second, securing the snatch gold by just one kilogram over Indonesia’s Rizki Juniansyah. South Korea’s Son Hyeon-ho came in third.
In the clean & jerk, Son made a significant impact by lifting 200 kilograms, earning the gold in that category. Luo matched the 200-kilogram lift, securing silver in the clean & jerk and overall gold with a total of 362 kilograms. Juniansyah secured bronze in the clean & jerk and silver overall.
The championships highlighted the intense competition among Asia’s top weightlifters, with athletes pushing boundaries and setting new records, showcasing the rising talent in the sport.
