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Chinese weightlifers eye historic achievement at Olympics
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Chinese weightliters will strive to make historic achievement in front of the home crowd at the Beijing Olympics, women's team coach Ma Wenhui said in Beijing on Saturday.

Ten lifters will compete in nine categories at the Games, according to the list announced here earlier.

"Chinese women lifters have the ability to compete for gold in every category," Ma said. "We have to choose the best players with biggest opportunity to win."

World champion Chen Xiexia will compete in women's 48kg category, which will probably contribute the first gold to China's medal tally at the Beijing Olympics.

Chen was injured during a recent practice, however, she has recovered and is confident in her Olympic prospect.

Chinese weightlifters have traditional advantage in this division, however, at 2004 Athens Olympics, it lost the gold when Li Zhuo was defeated by Turkish strongwoman Nurcan Taylan.

"I will try my best to get the lost honor back," Chen said.

Athens Olympic champion Chen Yanqing will compete in the women's 58kg division and another Olympic champion Liu Chunhong in the 69kg category.Cao Lei, who won gold in two consecutive World Championships in 2006 and 2007, will play in the women's 65kg division.

Another world champion Liu Haixia of women's 63kg division didn't appear on the list as only four berths for women lifters are available.

The two weightlifters in Chinese men's team who have experience at Olympics both changed their divisions this time. Shi Zhiyong, Athens Olympic champion in men's 62kg category will compete in 69kg division this time and Sydney Olympics bronze medalist Zhang Xiangxiang changed from 56kg to 62kg division.

"Don't take me as Olympic champion in this (69kg) division," Shi said.

China will also send Liao Hui, 20-year-old national champion, to back up Shi in the 69kg category as a "double secure" for the gold.

Another two young lifters will make debut at the Olympic competitions. They are Long Qingquan, 19, in men's 56kg division, and 22-year-old Lu Yong in men's 85kg category.

World champion Li Hongli will play in the men's 77kg category.

(Xinhua News Agency July 26, 2008)

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