BEIJING // Chen Xiexia got China off to a perfect start in the weightlifting competition, winning gold in the women's 48kg weight category and setting an Olympic record in the process. Turkey's Sibel Ozkan won the silver medal, while Chen Wei-Ling of Taiwan finished third. Chen Xiexia, last year's world champion, dominated today's competition from start to finish, lifting 95kg in the snatch and 117kg in the clean and jerk. She set Olympic records in the latter event and for the total score. Ozkan was a distant second with a total of 199kgs, 3kgs ahead of Chen Wei-Ling. The 2004 Olympic champion, Nurcan Taylan of Turkey, was eliminated after three failed attempts in the snatch. It was clear that Chen Xiexia was in a class of her own. Buoyed by chants from the home crowd, the 25-year-old completed her three attempts in the snatch with ease. She was already 7kgs ahead of Ozkan after the clan and jerk event. Chen Wei-Ling had a shot at the silver medal but failed in her final attempt at 115kg, collapsing to the floor as the bar dropped. Wrapped in a Chinese flag, Chen Xiexia received the gold medal and sang along with the crowd to the Chinese national anthem. It is an anthem that may be heard more than once at the gym of the Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics as China are expected to win at least five gold medals in weightlifting, a sport it has dominated in recent years.
*AP