ATHENS, Aug. 16 (Xinhuanet) -- Close contests are expected in weightlifting women's 58kg class, where nine of the 14 lifters hadwon one or more medals in world championships, and men's 62kg at the Athens Olympics Monday.

    Ri Song Hui of DPRK, silver medallist in the 53kg division at the Sydney Games, has been a world champion three times and has never droped below second place in a major competition.

    Chen Yanqing, from the dominant strongwomen squad of China, isexpected a strong showing at the Games.

    Young Aleksandra Klejnowska of Poland, holder of the European records in clean and jerk and in total, is in good form. Other strong European contenders are Aylin Dasdelen of Turkey and Zlatina Atanasova of Bulgaria.

    In the men's 62kg category, China's Le Maosheng and Shi Zhiyong, world record holder in snatch and in clean and jerk respectively, are making the quest for the gold at the Games.

    Greek Leonidas Sampanis, who won the silver medal at Atlanta and again in Sydney, has what's expected to be his last opportunity to win an Olympics gold. The 33-year-old lifter is reported to be retiring after the Athens Games. Enditem