China's women weightlifters beat 10 world records
(AFP)
Updated: 2005-10-12 19:42

Women weightlifters have broken at least 10 world records at the China National Games and more are expected to fall.

Despite the achievements, none of the records will be recognised by the International Weightlifting Federation, which only approves marks set at events on its official calendar. The China National Games is not included.

Consequently, several of China's national records will be greater than the world records.

Olympic champion Chen Yanqing shattered all three world records late Tuesday night in the 58 kilogram class, lifting 112.5kg in the snatch and 142.5kg in the clean and jerk for a total lift of 255kg, Xinhua news agency reported.

In the same event, Sun Caiyan also lifted 112.5kg in the snatch as both women beat the current world record of 110kg held by compatriot Wang Li.

Chen's clean and jerk outclassed Sun's current world record in the 133kg class, while Chen's total lift smashed Wang Li's world record of 240kg in the same class.

"I competed here only for the gold medal. I had not expected I could lift such a weight," Chen said of the competition that took place in her hometown of Suzhou, Jiangsu province.

"Because I am the Olympic champion, people certainly thought I would win the gold for Jiangsu at the National Games. Actually, I felt too much pressure before the competition."

Also on Tuesday, Ouyang Xiaofang and Wang Shu bettered the records in the snatch, jerk and total in the 63kg class, with Ouyang winning the gold. She lifted a total of 260kg, smashing the world record of 247.5kg held by compatriot Liu Xia.

Earlier, Ouyang snatched 120kg in the event, beating the world record of Athen's Olympic champion Anna Batsiushka of Belarus by 5.0kg.

The 22-year-old, lifting for Liaoning province, also beat the world record in the clean and jerk held by Natalia Skakun of the Ukraine when she hoisted 140kg, only to have compatriot Wang Shu later outdo her with a 142.5kg jerk.

Skakun's world record however still stands at 138kg.

On Monday, Yang Lian broke the current world records in the 48kg class in the clean and jerk single lift and in the total lift, hoisting 120kg and 215kg respectively.

Her Hunan provincial teammate Li Ping also smashed the clean and jerk and total lift records in the 53kg category, lifting 130kg in the single lift and 230kg in the total lift.

Seven gold medals are on offer in the women's weightlifting at the games with all five of China's Olympic gold medalists participating.

The National Games, China's own mini-Olympics formally opened on Wednesday, but various events have been unfolding since the start of the year.