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Asians conclude battles in Doha

In the women?s heaviest category, the +75kg, the two protagonists celebrated their third face-to-face contest after two world championships. Both times before, the lighter lady ? Korean Jang Mi-Ran, holder of the world record with 318kg ? was on the winning side. In Doha, however, Mu Shuangshuang from China improved the balance to 1:2. Her final score was 317kg.

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This time, it was Mu Shuangshuang’s turn to take the gold

The moment of truth came when Jang missed her 139kg snatch world record lift ? a weight Mu hoisted successfully, giving her 4 kilos on the Korean, which plus she was able to maintain right till the end.

In a final effort, Jang raised the winning 182kg barbell overhead, however she could not hold it like she did in Santo Domingo, but dropped it behind her back.

Surprise came in the men?s 85kg: gold medal for Kazakhstan. Topping his 2006 World Championship total by 10 kilos, Viacheslav Yershov defeated the number one favourite Chinese Lu Yong. The Kazakh man pulled off in snatch by 8 kilos and kept this advantage for a winning total, whereby he did not even need to take his final jerk attempt.

Merely 18 years old, weightlifting?s soaring superstar Ilya Ilin pocketed another set of gold medals with hands down victory in 94kg. He outlifted the 2nd placed Korean Lee by 27kg. Bursting into the weightlifting scenery in 2005 and sweeping two junior and two senior world championships clean since, Ilin added another title to his growing collection: the Asian Games?s.

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Ilya Ilin (KAZ): irresistible

Winning the 105kg Ahed Joughili of Syria compensated for the disappointment of dropping out in Santo Domingo. His success came despite remaining on his opening weight in snatch, and thanks to his ability to work off that handicap by a superb lift of 222kg in the clean and jerk.

Home supporters were disappointed by Qatar?s Asaad Said Saif, who bombed out at 170kg in the snatch.

The appearance of the sport?s undoubtedly greatest megastar, Hossein Reza Zadeh (IRI) in the men?s favoured +105kg category was to be a highlight to round up the Doha show. The double Olympic and 10-times world champion came but the show somewhat remained under the expectations, as Reza lifted for him extremely low-weight barbells. Nevertheless, he can put further three Asian gold medals into his cupboard. Unchallenged, the Iranian giant performed ? like in Santo Domingo ? something like a light training before the over-enthusiastic public. If 448kg seemed too low at the World Championships, he totalled 425kg in Doha. Local favourite Jaber Salem was still unable to catch up with the great man.

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"Thank you for coming!" – Hossein Reza Zadeh wins the +105kg