Li Zheng of China won the gold medal in the men's 56kg class at the ongoing Junior World Weightlifting Championships as he rewrote the snatch junior world record.

The 20-year-old Li, who placed fifth in the World Championships last year in Doha, met no challenge at all both in the snatch and jerk and finished his show at a total of 286kg, nine kilos more than his result in Doha, Qatar.

The 17-year-old Ego Irawan of Indonesia settled for the silver at 269kg and Li's compatriot Yang Yuxiang, 20, claimed the bronze at 268kg.

In his third attempt in the snatch, the 2003 Junior Worlds champion Li hoisted 131kg with breeze to refurbish the junior world record he made at 130kg.

Li has clinched the gold medals in the Junior Worlds twice, and he said he did not felt nervous as before when competing.

"Last year in Doha, I was too nervous to show my best.

International competitions helps me to be more mature and this time in Hangzhou, I stepped onto the stage with ease," Hi told Xinhua after the competition.

"I can lift better results in the daily training, so I did not felt surprised at all when breaking the junior world record," he added.

"I hope I can win a gold medal in the Beijing Olympic in 2008."
 
(Xinhua News Agency May 29, 2006)