Capping eight gold medals out of 15 on offer in weightlifting at the Guangzhou Asiad, Chinese lifters cemented their dominance again, however, the rise of Kazakhstan and DPR Korea was also obvious.

After the seven-day Asiad weightlifting competition, China took the lead in the medal standings with eight gold and two silver and one bronze, while Kazakhstan followed with 3-2-4. DPR Korea took the third with 2-3-1.

Comparing with the mighty last time in Doha, where China bagged ten gold, Chinese lifters were challenged in traditional strengths of light and middle division by their opponents, mainly from DPR Korea and Kazakhstan.

In women's 63kg, twice world champion and world record holder Maneza Maiya of Kazakhstan claimed the gold with a winning total of 241kg, while Chinese strongwoman Chen Aichan had to settle for the bronze with 8kg less.

Defending champion Cao Lei lost to the overwhelming Podobedova Svetlana of Kazakhstan in women's 75kg by a deficit of 22kg.

Pang Kum Chol won the men's 77kg as his biggest rival Su Dajin of China meltdown in clean and jerk. With the absence of world champion Liao Hui of China, another DPR Korea's lifter Kim Kum Sok took the gold of men's 69kg with a total of 324kg.

"Though China maintain their dominance, the margin with other teams is closer. We shouldn't look down upon rivals in Asia despite the golden journey in Guangzhou," said Wang Guoxin, the coach of China's male team.

Looking ahead to the London Olympics, Chinese weightlifting team used the Asiad as an opportunity for young aspiring athletes to get international competition experience.

"Chinese lifters came to Guangzhou not just for winning gold, they need more practice especially in big international events like the Asiad. These experience will help them, especially young buds, to keep calm in the London Olympics," said Wang.

"The challenge from other teams will help Chinese lifters to enrich themselves," he added.

In China's male team, Beijing Olympic champion Lu Yong is the only lifter who competed in Doha. The youth-led squad stand with the pressure by clinching four golds from eight men's divisions.

Strongman Yang Zhe, 19, stole the limelight by gifting China their first gold medal in men's 105kg weightlifting in 12 years. China didn't win gold in the last two Asiad in heavyweight weightlifting after Cui Wenhua won the men's 105kg at Bangkok Asiad in 1998, a huge gap comparing with its traditional strengths of light and middleweight, where the country gained four golds and one silver at the Beijing Olympics.

Wu Jingbiao, 21, claimed the gold in men's 56kg with a total of 285kg. Zhang Jie, 23, overcame newly-crowned world champion Kim Un Guk of DPR Korea to win the men's 62kg. Beijing Olympic champion Lu Yong, 24, became a "grand-slam" winner after crowning in the men's 85kg.

In women's division, China sent their best lineup that includes reigning champion Li Ping (53kg) and Wang Mingjuan (48kg). The duo successfully defended their title.

Twice Olympic champion Liu Chunhong said after winning women's 69kg that she "would continue to fight for the Londong Olympics. "My major objective now is the Olympic gold medal in 2012."

 (Xinhua News Agency November 20, 2010)