Weightlifter Srisurat takes second gold for Thailand at Rio Olympics (updated)

Sukanya Srisurat of Thailand lifted a total of 240kg in the women's 58kg weightlifting event to win the second gold medal for her country at the Rio Olympics here on Monday.

Srisurat, silver medalist at the 2013 world championships, met no challenge in the snatch as she hoisted 110kg, taking the lead by eight kilos to her compatriot Pimsiri Sirikaew and Kuo Hsing-Chun of Chinese Taipei.

The 21-year-old Srisurat lifted 130kg in her last jerk with a total of 240kg, giving Sirikaew and Kuo a chance to beat her in their last attempts. However, both of them failed.

"Today I did everything in the right order and I just followed my own course." Srisurat said.

"I am very happy. I never thought I could do it. This is my first time at the Olympics, so I am very happy to win a gold medal and bring it back to Thailand."

Sirikaew, silver medalist at the London Games, claimed her second silver medal with a total of 232kg and the bronze went to the Asian champion Kuo with a total of 231kg.

"I just want to say congratulations to the gold medallist. We work as a team, so it is all right to be the silver medallist because we are both on the Thailand national team. We are like a family, so everything is fine." Sirikaew said, whose idol is American swimmer Michael Phelps.

Thailand have won four medals so far in weightlifting at the Rio Olympics, including the first gold won by Sopita Tanasan in the women' s 48kg category.

"I am so happy to be one of them, because we are representing the Thai people and Thailand. There are 60 million people (in Thailand). We are happy to be a few of the people who can make Thai people happy." Sirikaew said.

"I did not do as good as I wanted. I am very disappointed. I hope I can have a better result in the next Olympic Games." Kuo said. Endit