China's Li Zheng (2nd L) stands on the winners podium after winning the gold medal of the men's 56kg weightlifting at the 15th Asian Games in Doha, Qatar, Dec. 2, 2006. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery >>>

    DOHA, Dec. 2 (Xinhua) -- China showed supreme power in weightlifting as Chinese lifters swept all gold medals in three categories on the first day's weightlifting competition at the 15th Asian Games here on Saturday.

    Three world champions brought China three gold medals and China has topped the medal standings while Thailand followed with two silver and one bronze. Vietnam took the third with one silver in men's 56kg.

    Wang Mingjuan, world champion in 2002, 2003 and 2005, made her debut in the Asiad as she lifted a total of 206kg in the women's 48kg with ease, taking the lead in both the snatch and clean and jerk.

    Pensiri Laosirikul of Thailand, 22, took the silver at 192kg and her compatriot Thongyim Bunphithak, bronze medalist at the Asian Championships in 2005, settled for the bronze at 191kg.

    "It is the first gold medal in the weightlifting competition. To be honest, I felt nervous but my determination to win the gold medal has never changed," Wang said after the competition.

    "I will work harder after coming back home and try to win in the Beijing Olympics," said Laosirikul.

    Another strongwoman Li Ping overcame Junpim Kuntatean of Thailand by three kilograms to win the women's 53kg class gold medal.

    The 18-year-old Li, world champion in 2005, hoisted a winning total of 224kg. Kuntatean, fourth in Busan Asiad in 2002, took the silver at 221kg and the 23-year-old Yu Weili of Hong Kong, China, claimed the bronze at 207kg.

    "I was nervous when competing, and I am still nervous even after the competition is over. You can see my right leg is still shaking," Li said.

    "I have performed my best here, so I am very excited with the silver medal. I hope I can beat Li in the Beijing Olympics," Kuntatean said.

    In men's 56kg, 20-year-old Li Zheng shrugged off a back injury to lift 130kg in the snatch, more than any of his rivals, and then 157kg in the clean and jerk to finish with a combined total of 287kg, which was enough to take gold by 2kg from Hoang Anh Tuan of Vietnam.

    The bronze medal went to Lee Jong Hoon of South Korean with a total of 277kg.

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