China's Olympic champ Lu fails to make a total at weightlifting worlds

China's Olympic champion Lu Xiaoju failed to make a total in the men's 77kg category at the world weightlifting championships in Houston, the United States on Tuesday.

Six different nationalities were represented in the medal ceremony for the discipline. Lu failed to make a total but won the snatch, a Kazakhstan athlete who was once a flag-bearer for Azerbaijan won the total, an Egyptian who moved up from 69kg only six months ago finished third, and a lifter from the B Group was on the podium, according to the official website of IWF.

Lu, Olympic and Asian Games champion who set the snatch and total world records in the 2013 IWF World Championships, looked set for victory when he took the snatch gold with 175kg. He missed a world record attempt at 177kg, then failed with all three clean & jerks at 201kg. He complained later of a knee injury.

Kim Kwang Song of DPR Korea, who came second in the snatch, also failed in his first attempt at 201kg but when he made it with his final lift he went into the lead. Only Nijat Rahimov, with two lifts to come, could beat him and to do so he would have to go up 12kg from 195 to 207. Amazingly, he did it with his first try, and even had a go at the world record on 211kg, which he failed.

"I was very surprised," said Kim. "I was expecting just to compete against China. I have never been in a competition with so many rivals and I offer my congratulations to the winner."

Rahimov, who won on body weight on 372kg, had carried the flag for Azerbaijan at the 2013 Universiade. He had a falling-out with Azerbaijan's coaches and switched nationality in the summer. "I moved because the coaching in Kazakhstan is better," he said.

The bronze went to Mohamed Ihab of Egypt, who also deserved a gold medal for best celebration of the week. He screamed, jumped, clapped his hands and kissed the floor when he made his third clean and jerk at 201kg - cheered all the while by a large and appreciative crowd. He then watched his rivals fail with lifts and danced around the warm-up room when he was sure of a medal.

Ihab moved up from 69kg only six months ago.

There was a silver medal for a B Group lifter in the clean & jerk. Elkhan Aligulizada of Azerbaijan, came from the audience on to the podium when only Rahimov beat his 203kg. The Armenian teenager Andranik Karapetyan took snatch bronze. Endi