Hubei's weightlifter Tu wins 89kg gold, dedicates debut National Games win to teammate

by sportswriters Yang Boyi and Huang Haoyuan

DONGGUAN, China, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- Hubei's Tu Yi won his first National Games gold medal in the men's 89kg weightlifting event on Tuesday night, capping a tense but triumphant debut and dedicating the victory to teammate Xiang Feiyang, who had narrowly missed the podium earlier in the day.

Tu, 25, topped the snatch with a leading lift of 175kg, giving him a solid foundation for the title. After missing his first clean and jerk attempt at 206kg, Tu converted his next two to finish with a total of 388kg and secure the gold.

"I was quite nervous throughout the competition, and there was definitely some pressure," the National Games debutant admitted. "It wasn't until the final lift that I truly relaxed and enjoyed the moment - I let go completely!"

After clearing 213kg on his third clean and jerk, Tu lingered on the platform to celebrate with the crowd, dancing to the music. "Major competitions come once every four years, and it's not easy," he said with a smile. "I wanted to savor this moment on the National Games stage."

Earlier in the afternoon, Tu's teammate Xiang Feiyang fell just short of the men's 81kg title, finishing 1kg behind the winner.

Xiang went three-for-three in the snatch to lead with 169kg, but a missed third attempt in the clean and jerk left him at 365kg, narrowly trailing Guizhou's Lei Jiangqing, who won with 366kg.

"I think I'll hang this gold medal around his neck when I get back," Tu said, gazing at his medal in the mixed zone.

Expressing regret for his teammate's near-miss, Tu hailed Xiang's relentless effort.

"He trains harder than me, and he's by far the hardest worker on our team," Tu said. "He's been battling injuries throughout this cycle. I really feel for him and wish he could have won this gold too."

While competitive sports often revolve around hardship and pursuit, the Hubei weightlifting team has found something more enduring than medals: mutual respect and camaraderie.

"From Xiang, I've learned the value of perseverance and tenacity," Tu said. "His work ethic and mental strength are truly admirable. They're qualities I've always aspired to." Enditem