[Asian Games] Chinese Taipei's Lin Tzu Chi breaks world records in women's 63㎏ weightlifting

Two more world records were set in weightlifting at the Asian Games on Tuesday as lifters from China and Chinese Taipei continued to flex their muscles on the way to the podium.

   Lin Tzu Chi of Chinese Taipei broke world records in the clean and jerk and the total weight to win the gold medal in the women's

63㎏ on Tuesday. She hoisted 145㎏ for the clean and jerk record and had a total of 261㎏, 4㎏ above the previous record.

   Lin broke the total world record twice on Tuesday, first reaching 259㎏ and then bettering it by 2㎏.

    In the clean and jerk, China's Deng Wei first set a new world record with 144㎏, but Lin stepped up minutes later to erase Deng from the record books with her successful attempt of 145㎏.

   "I am very happy about today's results," a smiling Lin said during a press conference after her record-smashing victory. "I was injured badly last year. However, with the help of the medical team and rehab program, I was able to come back with better results."

   Deng was left with a silver medal after reaching a final score of 259㎏ in total, but then she calmly accepted her defeat and said that while she tried her best, her Chinese-Taipei rival was "stronger."

   North Korea's Jo Pok-hyang, who accidentally dropped a 107㎏ barbell on her back during her first snatch, was able to recuperate later in the match to finish third with 247㎏. Her bronze is the communist country's fifth weightlifting medal in Incheon.

   In regard to her failed attempt at setting a world record in the clean and jerk, the 21-year-old said, "Despite the pain, I was able to give the world record a try thanks to the ardent cheering from the audience."

   The weightlifting venue at the western port city's Moonlight Festival Garden was filled with the spectators' shouts of excitement as the two champions repeatedly outlifted the world record.

   So far, eight new world records have been set at this year's Asian Games, seven of them in weightlifting. (Yonhap)