S.Korean Jang Mi-ran to claim title of "world's strongest woman"
15/8/2008 16:57
With the absence of major rival China's Mu Shuangshuang, South Korean Jang
Mi-ran is highly expected to claim the title of the "world's strongest woman" at
the Beijing Olympic Games in Beijing tomorrow.
Jang, 24, has an absolute
advantage in the super-heavyweight category as she was ranked first with an
entry total of 305kg, 20kg more than Ukrainian Olha Korobka, who was in the
second place.
No one will pose a real threat to Jang in the event, which will
start at 7 p.m. in the Beijing University Aeronautics and Astronautics
gymnasium, as long as she normally performs.
Whether Jang will try to break a
world record in the event may be the only mystery before the Games.
At
present, three world records in the class are all held by Chinese lifters. Mu
keeps the snatch and the total records, while Tang Gonghong holds the clean and
jerk.
In Athens, Jang was defeated by Tang, who, in the intense competition,
lifted a weight she had only hoisted once during training sessions. After Tang's
retirement, Jang began to dominate the category when she won the 2005 world
championships.
However, Jang has been facing persistent challenge from
another Chinese Mu since 2005. She beat Mu in three consecutive world
championships only because of bodyweight advantage, and Mu, world record holder,
also triumphed over her once at the Doha Asian Games.
Under a rule that
restricts each NOC's competitors to a maximum of four in women's event, China
didn't enter for this category.
Jang's compatriot Sa Jae-hyouk won the men's
77kg on Wednesday, claiming the first weightlifting title at the Beijing
Olympics for South Korea. It was the second Olympic weightlifting gold for South
Korea.
Xinhua
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