Meng Suping wins women's over 75kg weightlifting gold at Rio Olympics

Meng Suping claimed the fifth weightlifting gold medal for China as she lifted a total of 307kg in the women's over 75kg category at the Rio Olympic Games here on Sunday.

China has collected five gold medals from the women's 63kg, 69kg, over 75kg, the men's 56kg and 69kg categories, and took two silvers from men's 77kg and 85kg categories.

The final was billed as a battle between Meng and Kim Kuk Hyang of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, and so it proved.

Kim, bronze medalist at the 2015 World Championships, snatched the most of 131kg, and was being chased by Meng, who sat behind by just one kilo.

Meng, silver medalist at 2015 and 2014 World Championships, showed her prowess in the jerk as she lifted 177kg over her head for a winning total of 307kg after the 23-year-old Kim finished her 175kg jerk for a total of 306kg.

Meng kneeled down three times to thank the fans, who roared to support her after she failed in her first attempts both in the snatch and jerk.

Meng, 27, also gave China its fourth gold medal in the event after Ding Meiyuan won in 2000, Tang Gonghong in 2004 and Zhou Lulu four years ago in London.

Kim won the silver medal, giving DPR Korea its first medal in the highest weight class in weightlifting both in men and women.

Sarah Elizabeth Robles of the United States won the bronze with a total of 286kg. Endit