Rising star Yang Liuyue adds two golds at national weightlifting event

Yang Liuyue of southeast China's Fujian Province won the 64-kilogram snatch and overall gold medals at the Chinese Women's Weightlifting National Championships in front of a supportive home crowd in Fuzhou on Saturday.

The 18-year-old Yang and 20-year-old Li Shuang from Chongqing Municipality turned the 64kg division into a fierce head-to-head battle as soon as they stepped onto the stage. Li opened with 104kg in the snatch, and Yang outperformed her by one kilogram. Li then chose 109kg for her second attempt, but still trailed Yang, who hoisted 110kg.

After both failed at 112kg for their final effort, Yang secured the snatch title, while also matching the domestic junior record in that category by raising up 110kg.

Both Yang and Li lifted 110kg to open the clean and jerk, securing qualification for the 15th National Games of China in November. Yang eventually managed to conquer 130kg, while Li failed on both attempts at 135. Although the clean and jerk title went to Zhejiang's Liu Meishi, who pushed up 131kg, Yang still finished first in the overall standings with 240kg. Li stood second with 237.