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| Thạch Kim Tuấn of Việt Nam (second, left) poses with his world gold medals together with other athletes at the International Weightlifting Federation World Championships in California, the United States. — Photo thethaovanhoa.vn |
Viet Nam News
HÀ NỘI — Thạch Kim Tuấn took a hat trick at the ongoing International Weightlifting Federation World Championships in California, the United States.
The Vietnamese triumphed in the men’s 56kg category in all three events of snatch, clean and jerk and total.
Tuấn, 23, had a result of 126kg in the second attempt in snatch, which placed him in top position. His teammate, Trần Lê Quốc Toàn, was second with 119kg. Josue Brachi Garcia of Spain came third, lifting 118kg.
He then lifted 153kg in the clean and jerk and secured the second title.
Witoon Mimoon of Thailand stood second with 152kg and Toàn was third with 151kg.
With a total of 279kg, Tuấn completed his task with a third gold, although it was not as good as his previous score. Toàn finished second and Mimoon third.
It is the first time a Vietnamese won in all three events of a category at the world tournament.
It is Tuấn’s 10th world title, currently placing him third among the list of weightlifters who own the highest number of world gold medals in history. Wu Jingbiao and Long Qingquan of China are No. 1 and No. 2, with 12 medals each.
Tuấn’s victory was partly due to the absence of powerful rivals from nine countries, including Russia, China, Turkey, Belarus and Ukraine, which were banned from the tournament because of doping problems, and North Korean athletes were not given visas to the United States.
In the 56kg class, there were 12 competitors.
However, it is the best ever result for Việt Nam at a world-level competition.
Two months ago, Tuấn lifted 282kg in total and won a gold at the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Turkmenistan.
Earlier, he also triumphed at the Malaysian Southeast Asian Games in August. Tuấn also won a gold in snatch at the worlds in 2014.
According to coach Huỳnh Hữu Chí, the Việt Nam team are expecting good results from duo Trịnh Văn Vinh and Lại Gia Thành in the men’s 62kg, and Vương Thị Huyền and Nguyễn Thị Thúy in the women’s 48kg class.
The world tournament in Anaheim began on Tuesday and will wrap up on December 5. — VNS
