China's Li Hongli competes during the weightlifting men's 77kg final at the 15th Asian Games in Doha, capital of Qatar, Dec. 4, 2006. Li won the gold medal with a total of 361 kg.  (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery >>>

    DOHA, Dec. 4 (Xinhua) -- Chinese powerlifter Li Hongli lived up to his billing as the overwhelming favorite by winning the men's 77kg title to gift his team the eighth gold at the Asian Games in Doha on Monday.

    The 26-year-old Li, the four-time snatch world champion, was in a class of his own, lifting 165kg in the snatch and 196kg in the clean and jerk for a winning total of 361kg to take gold by the considerable margin of 20kg from Lee Jeong Jae of South Korea, who finished seventh in the 2006 worlds.

    Lee and Harem Ali of Iraq both ended with a total of 341kg today, but it was the former who took the silver with his lighter bodyweight.

    "I failed in the Busan Asiad four years ago, so this gold medal means a lot to me," said Li.

    "I am more confident than before and I hope I have the opportunity to attend the Beijing Olympics and win a gold medal."

    "I am determined to win a bronze medal before the competition. Even now, I still can't believe that I've won a silver," Lee said.

    "Though the silver medal made me happy, the result is not good enough. I can lift 10kg more in training. I believe I can beat Li in the Beijing Olympics to win the gold medal."

    "I hope there was no war in this world. And the bronze medal is a gift to my country," said Ali.