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Updated at 4:12 a.m., Monday, August 11, 2008

Zhang wins China's 4th weightlifting gold

Associated Press

BEIJING — Zhang Xiangxiang extended China's perfect record in weightlifting at the Beijing Olympics on Monday, lifting a total of 319 kilograms (703.3 pounds) in the men's 62-kg division for the country's fourth gold medal.

Zhang snatched 143 kg (315.3 pounds) and lifted 176 kg (388 pounds) in the clean and jerk.

Colombia's Diego Salazar won the silver medal at 305 kg (672.4 pounds), 7 kg (15.4 pounds) ahead of bronze medalist Triyatno of Indonesia.

Zhang was pressured in the snatch by Ji Hun-min of South Korea and Im Young Su of North Korea, but both failed in the clean and jerk.

It was Zhang's second Olympic medal after winning bronze at the Sydney Games in 2000 in the 56-kg division. After the medal ceremony, he got down on his knees and bowed to the ecstatic home crowd.

Salazar also was jubilant, kissing the weights after clearing 167 kg (368.2 pounds) in his final clean and jerk, in which the bar is first raised to shoulder level and then pushed overhead. The snatch is performed in a continuous motion.

Salazar's compatriot, Pan-American champion Oscar Figueroa, was less fortunate. He broke down in tears after an injury to his right hand prevented him from getting a good grip in the snatch.

His hand slipped every time he tried to lift the bar from the ground. Crying out in disappointment, he abandoned the competition.

For Im, problems in the clean and jerk continued North Korea's bad spell in weightlifting.

Earlier Monday, O Jong Ae said she had let down the North Korean people after getting the bronze in the women's 53-kg division, which was dominated by Chen Yanqing of China. A day earlier, world champion Cha Kum Kol of North Korea managed only fifth place in the men's 56-kg category. His teammate, Ri Kyong Sok, lost after three failed attempts in the snatch.

China, on the other hand, is off to a perfect start.

Before Chen defended her Olympic gold Monday, Chen Xiexia won the women's 53-kg competition and 17-year-old Long Qingquan triumphed in the men's 56-kg category.