Topic: China sends strongest weightlifting team

[Shaun Le Conte]

http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90779/90867/6814572.html

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"China sends strongest weightlifting team to world championships
15:39, November 16, 2009     

China sent one of the strongest weightlifting teams including five Olympic champions to take part in the upcoming world championships in Goyang, South Korea.

The Chinese team, leaving for Goyang on Monday, shows its determination to continue its leading position after it clinched eight gold medals in the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008.

The 24-year-old Liu Chuhong, the winner in the women's 69kg category in the Beijing Olympics, spearheaded the squad as the most experienced strongwoman in the Chinese team since she made her debut in the Vancouver worlds in 2003.

"My aim is to win my third Olympic gold medal in the London Olympics, so I regard the Goyang world championships as a step closer to London," she said.

Except veterans Cao Lei and Lu Yong, winners in women's 75kg division and men's 85kg division in the Beijing Olympic, other two Olympic champions Long Qingquan and Liao Hui were very excited to make their debut in the worlds.

"Though I had won golds in the Olympics and World Cup, I've never known the feeling when standing on the platform in the worlds. It will be very exciting," said Liao, gold medalist in themen's 69kg category in the Beijing Olympics.

"Of course, I'm coming for the gold medal in Goyang," he added.

Following is the squad of the Chinese team for the world championships in Goyang, slated for 17-29, which was the first weightlifting worlds after the Beijing Olympics.

Women:

Wang Mingjuan (48kg category), Chen Xiaoting (53kg category), Li Xueying (58kg category), Guo Xiyan (63kg category), Liu Chunhong, (69kg category), Cao Lei (75kg category), Meng Suping, (over 75kg category);

Men:

Long Qingquan, Wu Jingbiao (56kg category), Yang Fan, Ding Jianjun, (62kg category), Liao Hui (69kg category), Su Dajin, Lv Xiaojun, (77kg category), Lu Yong (85kg category).
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Source: Xinhua

[Erik Blekeberg]

Worlds should be quite a show this year. I wish I could watch it live rather than wait for videos to pop up around the internet.