Nong Kae lifts gold

Beijing - Prapawadee Jaroenrattanakoon was unbeatable in the clean and jerk at the Beijing Olympics as she won the second consecutive women's 53-kilo featherweight weightlifting gold for Thailand - and set an Olympics record.

It was a terrific comeback for Thailand after two other top lifters failed. Pensiri Laosirikul could only finish fifth, while Premsiri Bunpithak could not make a single successful lift in an event which was comfortably won by China's Chen Xiexia on Saturday.

Correction: In previous reports, the first name of Prapawadee was mistransliterated.

The 24-year-old Thai lifter - nickname Nong Kae - used to be known as Junpim Kuntataen, but said a fortune teller told her to change her name last year to improve her luck, and it seems to have worked.

"I changed the name because I wanted to win the Olympic Games," she said. "I don't know if you believe in fortune tellers but she said that if I change my name I will win gold."

She was tied with Novikava after the snatch, but clinched the win with her first clean and jerk at 120 kgs (264 pounds), a weight than no one else was able to match.

After setting the Olympic record in her second attempt, Prapawadee went for a world record clean and jerk in her third lift. But 126 kgs (277.2 pounds) was too much, and she gave up halfway through the lift, laughing.

"I don't mind that I didn't get the record. I just wanted a medal," she said.

Asian champion Prapawadee , 25, won with 221kg, leaving only the silver for Yoon Jin-Hee of South Korea and bronze for Nastassia Novikava of Belarus, who both lifted 213kg. Yoon got the silver owing to her lower weight at the pre-competition weigh-in.

Novikova and Prapawadee were tied on 95kg after the snatch portion, with Yoon on 94.

But the Thai then added an Olympic clean and jerk record 126kg for an undisputed gold. Thai IOC member Nat Indrapana, draped the medal around his countrywoman's neck.

Yoon was second on 119kg and Novikova on 118kg.

It was the second straight gold for Thailand in the event following Udomporn Polsak's success 2004 in Athens. (dpa)

It was a terrific comeback for Thailand after two other top lifters failed. Pensiri Laosirikul could only finish fifth, while Premsiri Bunpithak could not make a single successful lift in an event which was comfortably won by China's Chen Xiexia on Saturday.

Earlier report:

Disappointing start for Thailand as pair miss out on medals

By Wanchai Rujawongsanti

Bangkok Post Sports Editor

There were only tears from the two Thai weightlifters in the women's 48kg competition yesterday.

Pensiri Laosirikul could only finish fifth, while Premsiri Bunpithak could not make a single successful lift in an event which was comfortably won by China's Chen Xiexia.

The duo, who are both 24 and were tipped to win Thailand's first medal of the Beijing Games, burst into tears after the competition.

It was a miserable day for Pensiri as her room in Chiang Mai was hit by a fire during the competition, killing her two dogs.

"How unlucky I am," said the Nakhon Si Thammarat native.

She was told about the fire after her failure to win a medal and was still crying over the double setback hours after the competition.

Pensiri failed to lift 85kg in her first two attempts in snatch but managed to clear it in the third and final effort. She then cleared 110kg in clean and jerk but could not lift 114kg in her last two attempts.

Her total was 195kg, just one kg behind Chen Wei-Ling of Taiwan, who won bronze, and Im Jyounghwa of South Korea. Taiwan are now coached by former Thailand coach Zhang Jiamin of China who guided the Thai lifters to clinch two gold and two bronze medals at the 2004 Games.

Chen lifted 95kg and 117kg for 212kg and set new Olympic records in clean and jerk and total weight. Sibel Ozkan of Turkey took silver after lifts of 88kg and 111kg for 199kg.

Pensiri said she had done much better in training and at the recent National Championships when she managed 91kg in the snatch and 116 in the clean and jerk.

"I felt the weight was light but I don't know why I could not lift it," she said.

"I had a chance to win medal but could not take it."

Pensiri said she had been confident that either she or Premsiri or would have a podium finish but both suffered a heartbreaking end.

Premsiri failed in all her attempts to clear 84kg in snatch and was eliminated. She said she gave her all but she was unfit and only fought with her heart.

She revealed that she had been sidelined for one month due to a back injury and only returned to training 10 days before the Games. "Being here was already good enough for me," said the Suphan Buri star. "I am sorry to disappoint Thais."

Premsiri, who weighed 47.95kg for the competition, also had weight problems during the weigh-in and had to take time to make the 48kg limit. "I will fight on," said Premsiri.

Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn watched the competition at the BUAA Gymnasium. She was accompanied by Tourism and Sports Minister Weerasak Kowsurat and Thai Olympic chief Yutthasak Sasiprapha.

According to Charouck Arirachakaran, secretary-general of the National Olympic Committee of Thailand, the Princess praised the two lifters for their efforts and said she would follow the other Thai lifters on TV.

The burden to win Thailand's first medal of the Games now rests on the shoulders of Prapawadee Jaroenrattanakoon who will compete in the 53kg today.

"I don't feel any pressure but I won't take anything for granted although there are no lifters from China and Taiwan in this division," said Prapawadee, one of the favourites.

The Thai female weightlifting squad claimed two gold and two bronze medals in weightlifting at the 2004 Games. However, gold medallists Udomporn Polsak and Pawina Thongsuk and bronze winner Aree Wiratthaworn have retired.

Athens bronze medallist Wandee Kamaeim is the only female lifter left from the 2004 Olympics. She will take part in the 58kg division in Beijing.

Thailand had aimed to win four medals in weightlifting in Beijing.