ATHENS, Sept. 25 (Xinhuanet) -- Chinese powerlifter Li Ruifang was on the spotlight on Saturday as she won the women's above 82.5kg class with an astonishing performance at the 2004 Athens Paralympics here.

    The Thirty-three year old Li broke the world and Paralympic record eight times and completed her attempts with 160 kilograms, 20 more than the previous record held by Emma Brown of Britain. Now Li is the only lifter who holds world records in three different bodyweight categories (75kg, 82.5kg and above 82.5kg).

    In women's super-heavyweight class, Nadia Fekry of Egypt was placed second with 145kg and Grace Ebere Anozie took third place with 140kg.

    Although Emma Brown lost her world record in the above 82.5kg class, she doubled her gold Paralympic medals by winning the 82.5kg category. Brown lifted 130 kilos and beat Carine Burgy of France, who lifted the same weight, on bodyweight difference.

    The same happened in the battle for the bronze, as Hend Abd Elaty of Egypt and Li Fengmei of China both lifted 122.5 kilos but Elaty made it to the podium as he was four kilos lighter.

    In the women's 75kg class Lin Tzu Hui became the first woman to win a Paralympic gold medal for Chinese Taipei. She lifted 137.5 kilos but failed in two attempts to lift 140.5kg and break the world record.

    However her performance was enough to overcome competition from Zhu Mingxia, who won the silver medal with 132.5 kilos, while KikeAdedeji Ogunbamowo was placed third with 120kg.

    Women's competition concluded today in Nikaia Sports Hall with China and Egypt winning half of the thirty medals at stake. Chinawon eight medals, one more than Egypt, while Nigeria had a very good performance with a total of five medals claimed.

    In the only men's event which took place today, Zhang Haidong of China easily won the 75kg class by lifting 225 kilos. This was the third consecutive Paralympic gold medal for the Chinese champion, who is also the world record holder in both the 75kg and 82.5kg categories.

    The silver medal was won by El Sayed Abd Elaal of Egypt, who lifted 210 kilos, while Iranian Reza Boromand Gharehlar was placed third with 195.

    Forty-nine year-old Ryszard Fornalczyk of Poland, a four-time gold medalist, put on an amazing fight but with a lift of 192.5 kilos was eventually placed fourth and missed the opportunity to become the only powerlifter with five Paralympic medals. Enditem