Duangaksorn’s bronze medals cap fine Thai show
>> Duangaksorn Chaidee picked up two bronze medals to cap off an impressive campaign for Thailand at the 2018 world weightlifting championships in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan yesterday.
With Duangaksorn’s medals on the last day of the championships, Thai lifters won a total of nine gold, four silver and four bronze medals.
Competing in the women’s over 87kg division, Duangaksorn got two bronze medals from clean and jerk (167kg) and total weight (296kg). She was unable to make it to the snatch podium after she came fourth with a 129kg lift. Tatiana Kashirina of Russia swept all gold medals (145-185-330) while China’s Meng Suping (143184-327) claimed the silver medals. North Korea’s Kim Kuk Hyang took the snatch bronze medal (130).
Intarat Yodbangtoey, adviser to the Thai Amateur Weightlifting Association (Tawa), was satisfied with the team’s performance at the Ashgabat championships, which was one of the qualifying tournaments for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
“It was a fine performance by our athletes,” said Intarat. “But it’s still a long way to go. The athletes will have to continue with their training and keep improving because we still have five other Olympic qualifying tournaments,” he added.
Other Thai medal winners in Ashgabat were Thunya Sukcharoen and Chiraphan Nanthawong (women’s 45kg); Chayuttra Pramongkhol and Sopita Tanasan (women’s 49kg); Sukanya Srisurat (women’s 55kg); and Rattanawan Wamalun (women’s 64kg) and Teerapat Chomchuen (men’s 55kg).