Wang claims first gold
Wang Mingjuan of China won the first weightlifting gold medal of the London Olympics in the women's 48kg weight category.
Last Updated: 28/07/12 6:36pm
Wang Mingjuan of China won the first weightlifting gold medal of the London Olympics in the women's 48kg weight category.
The 26-year-old went into her first Games at ExCeL as the overwhelming favourite having not been defeated in international competition since winning her first of four world titles in 2002.
She triumphed with a combined total of 205 kilograms, snatch 91kg and clean and jerk 114kg.
Japan's Hiromi Miyake claimed silver with a total of 197kg (snatch 87kg and clean and jerk 110kg). Miyake, daughter of Mexico 1968 bronze medallist Yoshiyuki Miyake, finished sixth four years ago in Beijing and ninth in 2004.
The bronze medal went to Ryang Chun Hwa, 21, of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, with a total lift of 192kg (snatch 80kg and clean and jerk 112kg).
But Wang's gold continues China's recent domination of the sport, with the nation claiming eight of the 15 golds on offer in Beijing.
Seventeen-year-old Sirivimon Pramongkhol, from Thailand, finished fourth while Turkey's Nurdan Karagoz had to settle for fifth.
Thailand's Panida Khamsri, a strong contender to challenge Wang having claimed silver at last year's world championships, was a surprise casualty as she crashed out early on.
Having come close to suffering a dislocation of her right elbow in her first snatch, Khamsri failed to record a good lift in her subsequent two attempts.
