China's Chen Yanqing makes a good lift during the Women's 58kg weightlifting at the 15th Asian Games in Doha, Qatar, Dec. 3, 2006. Chen broke the previous snatch world record of 110kg with a lift of 111kg.(Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery >>>

    By Sportswriter Wang Zijiang

    DOHA, Dec. 3 (Xinhua) -- Olympic champion Chen Yanqing broke three world records in the women's 58kg class weightlifting on day 2 of the Asian Games on Sunday when China won 13 gold medals to extend their gold tally to 29.

    Chen, 27, snatched 111kg in her third attempt to beat the world record of 110kg. She went on to jerk 140kg to break the world record by one kilogram, thus also raising the world record of the total to 251kg. The previous world total record of 242kg was set by fellow Chinese Gu Wei in 2005.

    "I feel really great, my priority was to be the champion," said Chen, who came out of retirement this year aiming to win a second Olympic gold medal in the Beijing Olympics.

    "I thought it over and over and then decided to train again for the 2008 Beijing Olympics," she said.

    The world records were only the extra gift for the Chinese weightlifting team officials as China has captured all the six gold medals on offer during the first two day's competition.

    "It is a gift to the host Doha and whole Asia," said Ma Wenguang, president of the Chinese Weightlifting Association, who is also all praises for Chen. "Chen is powerful, but breaking world records was not so easy for her. I am happy that she did that."

    The day's other two weightlifting gold medals went to Olympic champion Zhang Guozheng in the men's 69kg division, and reigning world champion Qiu Le won the men's 62kg category.

    Chinese women followed their men's footprint to lift their ninth consecutive gymnastics team title at the Asian Games, beating DPR Korea to the second place by a large margin at the Aspire Stadium.

    China collected a total of 239.400 points, 10.850 ahead of the silver takers DPK Korea (228.550). Japan finished third in 225.950 points. South Korea ranked fourth on 215.650 points.

    China is likely to clean sweep all the gymnastics titles on women's disciplines by leading the five individual events in qualifications.

    China also has a perfect ending in the table tennis event, collecting both men's and women's team gold. It was the Chinese men's seventh Asian Games table tennis team title and for their women's players, it's a title to be taken back after their flop in the Busan Games four years ago.

    The Chinese women crushed Singapore 3-0 in their first ever meeting in an Asian Games final while their men trounced arch-rivals South Korea 3-0 in their fourth consecutive final encounter in an Asiad.

    Kazakhstan's Vladislav Polyakov produced the biggest surprise in the swimming pool by overcoming Olympic champion Kosuke Kitajima of Japan in the men's 50m breaststroke.

[1] [2] [3] [4]