Team China
China to dominate weightlifting at Asian Games
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-11-09 16:32
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DONGGUAN,?Guangdong -- China collected 10 of the 15 gold medals on offer last time in Doha, and will continually seek further success at Guangzhou Asian Games.
China, looking ahead to the London 2012 Olympics, sends a youth-led squad to the Asiad campaign without some of their leading lifters, like Olympic and world double champion Liao Hui, Olympic gold medalist Long Qingquan.
However, China's weightlifting dominance is still solid as their record is always impressive both in Asia and around the world. An overall medal haul of 11 (four gold, five silver, two bronze) saw China top the standings at Turkey world weightlifting championships in September, ahead of Russia and Kazakhstan.
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Lu is the only lifter among China's men's team who competed in Doha. The 24-year-old made a breakthrough for China's men's heavyweight at the Beijing Olympics after winning in 85kg division, and will continue to inject China's influence in heavyweight together with veteran Jiang Hairong at the Asian Games.
Lightweight and middleweight are China's traditional strength. Newly-crowned world champion Wu Jingbiao (56kg), who overcame Long in Turkey, is considered as a hot favorite. Meanwhile national champion Su Dajin and Turkish worlds runner-up Zhang Jie will also fight for the gold.
In women's draw, China sends their best lineup that includes Olympic champion Liu Chunhong (69kg) and Cao Lei (75kg).
The world record holder Liu meets no challenge in Asia, whereas Cao will clash with the world champion Podobedova Svetlana of Kazakhstan, who broke the world record at the world championships in a row.
Outside the competition, the spotlight will also go to doping issue after four competitors were kicked out of Doha for flouting drugs rules.