DOHA - Athens Olympic gold medallist Chen Yanqing shocked Asia as she broke three world records en route to winning the women's 58kg weightlifting gold medal with a total of 251kg in the Asian Games here on Sunday.

Olympic champion Chen Yanqing sets three weightlifting world records yesterday to win the women's 58-kilogram gold medal at the Asian Games. Chen hoisted 111 kg to eclipse the snatch record of 110 kg set by fellow Chinese Wang Li in 2003 and lifted 140 kg in the clean and jerk and 251 overall to beat compatriot Qu Wei's marks of 139 kg and 241 kg set last year. [Xinhua]

Chen, 27, competing internationally first time since the Athens Olympics, raised 103kg in the snatch to take the lead in the nine- women field. She snatched 111kg in her third attempt to thrash the world record of 110kg, set by her compatriot Wang Li in 2003.

In her first lift in the clean and jerk, Chen easily raised 131kg to reach a total of 242kg, one kilogram more than the world record, also set by her compatriot Gu Wei in the 2005 Worlds.

Chen sustained her momentum in her last attempt when she jerked 140kg to break the world of the kind by one kilogram, thus also raising the world record of the total to 251kg, nine kilograms than the original mark.

Veteran Wandee Kameaim of Thailand, Athens Olympic bronze medalist, met severe challenge from dark horse Pak Hyon Suk of DPR Korea. Both hoisted 224kg, but Kameaim took the silver because she weighs 0.33kg less than the 21-year-old Pak.

"Breaking records was in our plan. I felt nervous, but when I stepped onto the platform, I forgot everything," Chen told the press.

"I succeeded in all six attempts, which made me very happy."

"The Asian Games are the second largest sports meeting in the world. In my heart, the Olympics and the Asiad are both important to me. I told myself to be brilliant in Doha, and I did it," she added.

"I am not satisfied with the weight I lifted today," Kameaim said.

"We didn't expect a gold medal in this category. Pak was a dark horse and luckily, Wandee won the silver," said Yodbangtoey Boossaba, President of the Thailand Weightlifting Association.