Chinese strongman Long Qingquan lifted the gold medal of the men's 56kg category weightlifting at the Beijing Olympic Games on Sunday.

This is the second gold medal for the Chinese weightlifting team at the Games after Chen Xianxia had claimed the title of women's 48kg class on Saturday.

The baby-faced Long snatched 132kg and jerked 160kg for a winning total of 292kg. Vietnam's Hoang Anh Tuan took the silver at 290kg and Eko Yuli Irawan of Indonesia had the bronze at 288kg.

The 18-year-old claimed 125kg in the snatch and went to 132kg after three lifts to list first place before the clean and jerk, which broke the former junior world records.

Hoang and Irawan finished with 130kg and posted a challenge to Long, while Yang Chin-yi of Chinese Taipei and Cha Kum Chol of DPR Korea remained the competition with 128kg.

Beijing Olympics is the first international competition for Long as he entered the national team in the year of 2007, but the rookie stunned world champions Li Zheng in the national championships in April to make sure his seat in the China's Olympics squad.

He lifted 292kg, which was 5kg more than the best international competition result since 2006.

Long, who is believed as another talented player in the men's flyweight category, continued his leading with 155kg in the first lift. While Irawan and Hoang answered with 155kg, Long lifted 160kg in the second lift and stayed in the top.

The Chinese Taipei and DPR Korea strongmen quit the competition for medals as they jerked 157kg to finished third and fourth place.

Irawan failed to keep pace at 158kg in his second lift, leaving Long and Hoang to fight for the gold. Then, Hoang lifted 160kg on his third attempt, but still trailed Long by 2kg with one lift remaining.

Already claimed the title, Long, tried 164kg in his third attempt with a smile but had no lift.

(Xinhua News Agency August 10, 2008)