Mr. Ma:

Young Chinese women outshine at National Games

Young potential women emerged to threat veterans at the 11th Chinese National Games, and were regarded as new blood for the national teams in preparation for the London Olympic.

    Mr. Ma  witnessed teenagers beating world champions to win gold medals in two out of seven divisions and some young lifters collected silvers and bronzes.

    "I am very happy to see powerful young lifters here and they are full of ambition and energy. They're the future of Chinese women's weightlifting," said Ma.

    In women's 58kg division, 19-year-old Li Xueying clinched gold medal from the world champion Qiu Hongmei with a world record equalizing result of 251kg.

    Rookie Guan Xinlei overcame world champion Ouyang Xiaofang with a total of 265kg, eight kilos more than the world record set by her compatriot Liu Haixia in the 2007 Worlds.

    The most sparkling strongwoman was the 22-year-old Qi Xihui of Hunan, who showed strong ambition to win the gold in the women's over 75kg division with a total result of 324kg, just two kilos short of the world record.

    South Korean Jang Mi-ran set three world records in the Beijing Olympic Games to become the strongest woman in the world with a total of 326kg.

    Except the young gold medalists, rookies also booked the medals in the 69kg division and 75kg division. The silver and bronze medalists Chen Ling and Kang Yue were 20 and 19 years old respectively in the 69kg division.

    Silver medalist Xiang Yanmei in the 75kg division were 17 years old.

    "Our advantage in the lighter divisions are expanding now, comparing with other countries," said Yang Hanxiong, consultant of the Chinese Weightlifting Association.

    According to Chinese national team's plan, top eight lifters in every division in the National Games will be enrolled into the national team in November, starting the preparation for the London Olympics in 2012.

    "Good results here can't tell everything, and the young potentials will be tested by the coaches and consultants in a series of competitions in the national team," he added.

    "What's more important is that they need more international competition experience. If they can pass all the tests, they will very likely appear in the London Olympic."

    Besides, ten women's weightlifting world records had been shattered in the Games including three records in 48kg, 53kg and 63kg divisions respectively, and snatch world record in the over 75kg division.

    Smashing world records frequently happens in the Chinese National Games in the past. However, their outstanding performance will not be written in the world record books because the sport's governing body, the International Weightlifting Federation, only recognizes records set in world, continental and Olympic competitions.