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Smashing success China's Chen sets two world records
SYDNEY, Australia (CNNSI.com) -- Southeast Asian women have picked up three bronze medals have just four events. Indonesia has picked up two bronzes and the Thais one bronze via their power-packed females. But Thailand failed to capture a second medal when Saipin Detsaeng, ranked No. 2 in the world, slipped into fourth place in the 63-kilogram (139-pound) class Tuesday. Ioanna Chatziioannou of Greece claimed the bronze when Saipin missed her final two lifts, either of which would have given her the medal. Both lifters raised 222.5 kilograms (490 1-2 pounds), but the Greek weighed slightly less than Saipin. China's Chen Xiaomin set two world records and gave her country its second gold in the sport in the same event. She lifted a world mark of 112.5 kilograms (248 pounds) in the snatch and had 130 kilograms (286 1-2 pounds) in the clean and jerk for an overall world record of 242.5 kilograms (534 1-2 pounds). Thailand's Suta Khassaraporn made national history by winning the first Olympic medal outside the boxing ring for the Southeast Asian kingdom. The 28-year-old naval officer finished third with a total of 210 kilograms (463 pounds) in the 58-kilogram (128-pound) event Monday night as Mexico's Soraya Jimenez Mendivil won a surprise gold and Ri Song Hu of North Korea, the world's No. 1 in the class, took the silver. The Thais still have two strong lifters who will see competition Tuesday. Monday night also saw Winarni Binti Slamet of Indonesia win a bronze in the 48-kilogram (106-pound) division with a 202.5-kilogram (445.5-pound) total. World record-holder Xia Yang of China won the gold and Taiwan's Li Feng-Ying the silver. Chinese women, who have monopolized the sport since it went international 13 years ago, are aiming for four golds at Sydney and probably could have seized more if rules didn't limit each nation to only four events. In four events, Asian women have won seven of the 12 medals on offer in a sport making its debut at the Sydney Olympics. Southeast Asia's first victor was Raema Lisa Rumbewas, who earned her bronze in the 48-kilogram (106-pound) division Sunday. The more-favored Sri Indriyana managed a fourth despite a knee operation and bleeding blisters. Showing that the Southeast Asians also possess depth, Myanmar's Kay Thi Win beat the likes of American Robin Goad and Japan's Kaori Niyanagi when she emerged fifth in that event. Her teammate Swe Swe Win also placed fifth in the 53 kilograms, while Moe Nwe Khin was sixth in the 58-kilogram division. The efforts of the trio were among the best Olympic performances for Myanmar, also known as Burma, which has yet to win an Olympic medal. Although the medals were hardly guaranteed, the Southeast Asians have been building up to Olympic victory for the past few years and have done well in international competitions. Suta was ranked No. 3 in the world and won a gold in the 1997 World Championships in Athens. Teammate Saipin captured a silver at this year's Asian championships which propelled her to the No. 2 world ranking. And Sri Indriyana was the silver medalist at Athens.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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