China's Olympic champion Liu Huanhua delivered a commanding performance at the Asian Weightlifting Championships in Jiangshan, securing gold medals in both the clean-and-jerk and total categories of the men's 102kg division. The event showcased fierce competition, with Turkmenistan's Hasanbayev Davranbek setting an early lead by clinching snatch gold with a 182kg lift.
Liu opened strongly with a 171kg snatch but narrowly missed his final 183kg attempt, settling for silver in the segment. He rebounded decisively in the clean-and-jerk, lifting 230kg to claim gold despite failing to surpass his world record attempt of 234kg. His combined 410kg total secured the overall championship title.
"I performed as I trained, but I know I can do better," Liu said, reflecting on his near-record attempt. "Lifting 230kg felt like my waist might give way, but I pushed through."
Chinese athletes also dominated the women's 87kg category, with Tian Dongping sweeping all three golds. Tian lifted 118kg in the snatch and 141kg in the clean-and-jerk, totaling 259kg. Teammate Jiang Yujia secured multiple silvers, highlighting China's depth in the sport.
The championships, held ahead of the Paris Olympics, underscored Asia's strength in weightlifting as athletes fine-tune preparations for global competition.
