Teenager Li claims first major gold at World Weightlifting Champs

WORLD number one Xueying Li cruised to 58kg victory to claim her first major title and the World Weightlifting Championships in Goyang, Korea.

The 19-year old had beaten former world champions Hongmei Qiu and Caiyan Sun to take the Chinese National title in October.  In Korea, she overcame less illustrious opposition to win with a total of 239kg.

Li came out on top in both lifts on the day, finishing 7kg clear of Belarus' Nastassia Novikava for both the snatch and clean and jerks.

Novikava, Olympic bronze medallist last year in the 53kg category, clinched silver with a season's best 225kg while Ukraine's Yuliya Kalina picking up bronze another 10kg behind.

Meanwhile, 16-year old Kazakhstan lifter Zulfiya Chinshanlo broke the Chinese dominance at the championships by claiming gold in the women's 53kg.

The teenager was lying fifth after a snatch lift of 90kg but a fierce clean and jerk lift of 129kg propelled the youngster to the top of the podium with 219kg.

China's Xiaoting Chen was an agonising 1kg back, in silver, while home-favourite and Olympic silver medallist Jin-hee Yoon took bronze on 209kg.