China's Luo Shifang breaks world record at IWF World Cup
Luo Shifang in action during the women's 59kg competition at the IWF World Cup in Phuket, Thailand, April 3, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
Luo Shifang of China claimed her first world record at the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) World Cup in Phuket, Thailand on Wednesday in the women's 59kg category.
Luo lifted 108kg in the snatch and 140kg in the clean and jerk for a total of 248kg, beating the previous world record of 247kg.
Luo's failed second attempt in the snatch cost her the gold medal, as Kim Il Gyong lifted 108kg ahead of her. But Luo was dominant in the clean and jerk, bringing home the two gold medals in the clean and jerk as well as in total.
Luo appeared unhappy with her performance, saying that breaking the world record was only the "minimum target.”
"Actually I felt pretty good today, but maybe I was still a bit nervous so I failed the two second-attempts in both the snatch as well as the clean and jerk, so it's a bit of pity but still I am happy to finally have a world record of my own," she said.
The IWF World Cup in Phuket runs until April 11 and serves as a qualifying event for Paris 2024.