China underlined its strength in weightlifting by grabbing seven gold medals out of all 15 on offer at the world championships, though coaches called for a younger squad for next year's Olympic Games amid concerns over injuries.

Qiu Le, a two-time world champion in 2005 and 2006, injured his right elbow when competing in the men's 62kg class. Another lifter Wu Meijin, Olympic silver medallist in the men's 56kg category, was struggling with waist injury since he arrived in Chiang Mai, a northern Thai city.

Both were forced to quit the jerk event and returned home earlier on Sunday.

Furthermore, Lu Yong strained his left ankle when competing in the men's 85kg division. He was finally placed seventh among ten lifters in the Group A.

Three cases made Chinese power men embarrassed though they have won the gold medals for the total in the 62kg and 69kg classes.

"We had also expected the gold medals in the 56kg and 77kg classes and a medal in 85kg," Chen Wenbin, the head coach of the Chinese men's team told Xinhua.

Asian champion Li Hongli finished with a bronze medal in the men's 77kg category.

Consultants from the Chinese Weightlifting Association (CWA) urged the national team to give rookie lifters more chances to compete in international events.

"There are a lot of promising young lifters in the national team now. What they need is not the ability but the chances to show their power," said Zhao Qingkui, former head coach of Chinese men's team.

"If these veterans suddenly get injured just ahead of the Olympics, what shall we do then? We must renew the team now for the Beijing Olympics," he added.

Chinese power women did a good job in the worlds as they clinched five gold medal of total from all eight categories.

However, they dare not slow down their rhythm in training as the Beijing Olympics is less than a year away.

"I'm satisfied with their performance, but I am still worried with the progress that the foreign opponents have made," said Ma Wenguang, the president of the CWA.

"Girls from South Korea, Russia and Thailand are really strong now, and they are our main opponents in the Olympics," Ma said.

"We will not ignore or give up any category and China will choose the best female lifters to compete in the Olympics and winning four gold medal on offer is our goal," he added.

Five world records fell in the Chiang Mai worlds. Russian girls bettered the previous mark in the 69kg and 75kg classes, while Chinese equaled the feat in two other categories.

Rybakou Andrei of Belarus was the only male lifter who shattered a world record _ in the snatch in the men's 85kg division.

Altogether 245 female and 388 male lifters from 89 countries and regions competed in eight categories for men and seven categories for women at the championships.