Euro gold for Smorchov as Cheema disappoints

RUSSIA'S Vladimir Smorchov has claimed European Championship gold in Bucharest as Britain's Gurbinder Cheema endured a disappointing day in the 105kg category.

Smorchov, 29, accrued 449.7 points having lifted 190kg in the snatch and 221kg in the clean and jerk, good enough for gold.

He edged out Ukrainian powerhouse Oleksiy Torokhtiy who could only manage 181kg in the snatch, but notched up an eye-watering 224kg in the clean and jerk - the biggest lift in that section.

Lithuania's Ramunas Vysniauskas could not improve on his silver medal in 2008 and was forced to settle bronze with a points total of 442.2 - just 0.7 behind Torokhtiy.

Great Britain's Cheema - the 30-year-old British No.1 - could not improve on his first sntach lift of 145kg, which, coupled with a clean and jerk of 175kg, was only good enough for 349.7 points and 14th place.

Fellow Brit Peter Kirkbride was due to compete in the 94kg discipline but was forced to withdraw.