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Minasyan and Kim wrap up splendid Universiade weightlifting events in due fashion

+105 – looked like a piece of cake for MINASYAN Gor, ARM, Rio 2016 Olympic silver medallist. However, as it often happens in sport, despite a 200kg snatch and a last-to-open 230kg, he was almost taken by surprise by local star, former Asian champion CHEN Shi-Chieh, who wanted to beat the Armenian leaving two attempts for the required 241kg clean and jerk. In the end, the expected pattern did work and MINASYAN remained in first position and – unusually for Taipei 2017 – no Universiade records were shattered.

The women’s last category, the +90kg also featured one competitor standing out from the field: Rio Olympics silver medallist (+75kg) KIM Kuk Hyang from PRK. She also delivered what was expected from her and wrapped up the women’s competitions with an impressive 132kg in snatch and 160-167kg, both good and 170kg just missed = 299kg in total. Behind the North-Korean, several contenders were fighting for the medal positions. Among them, former Universiade second and World University champion from Thailand, PULSABSAKUL Chitchanok was most successful with her 270kg, taking silver. Great Britain’s BROWN Mercy was happy to pick up the bronze. Universiade records, once set by the mighty KASHIRINA, were not in danger in this category.