Thai female lifters continued to put on a dominating show at the 2018 world weightlifting championships in Turkmenistan.
On Saturday, Sukanya Srisurat smashed three world records as the reigning Olympic champion swept all gold medals in the women’s 55kg division at Ashgabat Olympic Complex.
Her stunning performance followed compatriots Chayuttra Pramongkhol and Sopita Tanasan’s remarkable efforts earlier in the day in the 49kg event. Chayuttra won two gold medals from clean and jerk and total weight while Sopita took gold in snatch.
Thunya Sukcharoen kick-started Thailand’s impressive campaign on Friday with another sweeping victory in the 45kg category.
Sukanya, the 2016 Rio Olympic Games gold medallist in the 58kg division, broke the snatch world record with her first lift. The Thai managed 101kg, breaking the old mark by two kilos.
The Thai star then proceeded to lift 103kg and 105kg on her second and third attempts, comfortably taking the gold medal after her Chinese rival Li Yajun only managed 102kg.
As the clean and jerk battle got underway, Sukanya first hoisted 122kg. She improved it to 125kg on her second attempt and signed off with a 127kg for a total of 232kg, also breaking the old records of 124kg and 221kg respectively at Ashgabat Olympic Complex.
“Before the championships we concentrated on technical training, and I improved a lot. I feel relieved and happy,” Sukanya said afterwards.
China’s Li came second in snatch (102kg) and total weight (225kg) while her compatriot Zhang Wangqiong, the 2012 junior world champion, took clean and jerk silver medal (124kg) and two bronzes in snatch (101kg) and total weight (225kg). Cristina Iovu of Romania was the only non-Asian athlete on the podium with her clean and jerk bronze (123kg).
The final lot of Thai athletes -- Sarat Sumpradit (men’s 96kg), Siriyakorn Khaipandung (women’s 81kg), Chidchanok Pulsabsakul and Duangaksorn Chaidee (women’s over 87kg) -- jetted off to Ashgabat on Sunday.
The Ashgabat championships end on Saturday.
