Weightlifting: Thailand pins hopes on next generation

(BEIJING, July 28) -- After the retirement of Pawina Thongsuk and Polsak Udomporn, the gold medalists at the Athens Games in Women's 75 and 53 kilogram Weightlifting categories respectively, Thailand is now pinning hope on Prapawadee Jaroenrattanatarakoon.

The 24-year-old, who will compete in Women's 53kg Weightlifting in Beijing, won three gold medals in her debut competition, the 2005 Universiade. Later, she grabbed silver at the Doha Asian Games, and broke two world records in Thailand's National Games last year, lifting 130kg on the Clean and Jerk and 235kg total.

This August, she will face Chinese opponents Li Ping, whose Clean and Jerk world record Prapawadee broke in 2007, and Qiu Hongxia, who was the world record-holder in overall total until Prapawadee broke her record in 2007 as well. Other tough competitors in this weight category are Nastassia Novikava from Belarus and Lisa Rumbewas Raema from Indonesia.

Athens 53kg champion Udomporn believes Prapawadee has big potential for medals.

Thailand is sending four women weightlifters to the Beijing Games. The other three are Pensiri Laosirikul and Premsiri Boonpitak in the 48kg class, and Wandee Kameaim, the 2004 bronze medalist for Women's 58kg.