PARIS — Liu Huanhua gained China its fourth weightlifting gold medal by the primary seven competitions on the Paris Olympics, taking gold within the males’s 102 kilograms on Saturday.
Liu beat Tokyo champion Akbar Djuraev of Uzbekistan in a reclassified division, as weightlifting was lowered from 14 to 10 occasions. Djuraev gained gold three years in the past at 109 kilograms and needed to lower down from 240 to 224 kilos.
READ: Chinese language duo retain Olympic titles as weightlifting in Paris begins
“It was a little bit tough to lose the burden,” Djuraev stated. “That’s why I (solely acquired) the silver medal. For the following Olympics, possibly there will likely be one other change to the burden (classes), so possibly I can get a greater outcome.”
China gained seven gold medals in weightlifting on the Video games three years in the past. However the nation had by no means gained at a stage above 100 kilograms.
“I consider the gold medal is a good proof, and additionally it is a breakthrough for the Chinese language weightlifting group,” stated Liu, who was making his Olympic debut at age 22. “It’ll give extra confidence to the heavyweight weightlifters from China that we will win gold and obtain nice outcomes on the world stage.”
READ: Elreen Ando finishes robust for sixth place at Paris Olympics
Liu gained with a rating of 406. Djuraev acquired silver at 404 and Belarusian Yauheni Tsikhantsou, who’s competing as a impartial athlete, bronze at 402. Ramiro Mora, a Cuba native residing in Britain and representing the Refugee Workforce, was seventh.
Li Wenwen may give China one other gold within the girls’s 81-plus kilograms weight class on Sunday. The U.S. has its first gold since 2000 after Olivia Reeves gained within the girls’s 71 kilograms and two medals whole with Hampton Morris taking bronze within the males’s 61 kilograms.
Observe Inquirer Sports activities’ particular protection of the Paris Olympics 2024.