The 2023 Asian Weightlifting Championships have kicked off in Jinju, South Korea, with athletes from all over the continent competing for glory. As is well known in the sport, many of the most formidable weightlifters come from Asia, and this year’s competition has already seen China’s Liao Guifang set two new world records in the 71-kilogram weight class.
Liao’s performance was truly remarkable, particularly in the Snatch event, where she lifted an incredible 120 kilograms (264.6 pounds) on her final attempt, smashing the previous world record of 119 kilograms (262.4 pounds) held by Loredana Toma at the 2022 World Weightlifting Championships. Despite her impressive achievement, Liao remained composed and showed no emotion, indicating that she was confident of breaking the record from the outset.
In addition to her triumph in the Snatch, Liao also excelled in the Clean & Jerk event, completing two attempts and locking out 148 kilograms (326.3 pounds) on her second try. With a Snatch of 120 kilograms and a Clean & Jerk of 148 kilograms, Liao’s Total came to an impressive 268 kilograms (590.8 pounds), setting a new world record in the 71-kilogram weight class and surpassing the previous record of 267 kilograms (588.6 pounds) held by Zhang Wangli at the 2018 World Weightlifting Championships.
It’s worth noting that all the world records in the 71-kilogram weight class are now held by Chinese athletes, with Liao holding the Snatch and Total records and Zhang Wangli holding the Clean & Jerk record. This is a testament to China’s dominance in the sport, and Liao’s achievement cements her position as one of the country’s most formidable weightlifters.
In fact, Liao’s performance at the 2023 Asian Weightlifting Championships has propelled her to the top of the rankings for the Paris 2024 Olympics, which bodes well for her chances of appearing at the Games. At just 21 years old, Liao has a bright future ahead of her and is sure to continue breaking records and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in weightlifting.
The U71KG results at the 2023 Asian Weightlifting Championships saw Liao Guifang take the top spot with a total of 268 kilograms (590.8 pounds), followed by Vanessa Sarno with 239 kilograms (526.9 pounds) and Chen Wen-huei with 232 kilograms (511.5 pounds).
As the competition continues, we can expect to see even more impressive performances from the world’s top weightlifters, but for now, Liao Guifang’s record-breaking achievements have set the bar incredibly high. Published on May 9th, 2023 at 2:27 PM EDT.
