Pawina Thongsuk set a world record in the clean and jerk of the women's 63kg category, upstaging China's world champion, Ouyang Xiaofang, to rapturous celebrations from a small but colourful travelling band of Thai supporters.

Her clean-and-jerk lift of 142kg was the sole world record missing from her collection - she set the snatch and aggregate world records last year.

Naw Than Yin of Burma took the bronze.

All six previous weightlifting gold medals here had been won by China, including Chen Yanqing who produced an astonishing three world records en route to the women's 58kg category title on Sunday.

"I've been to the Asian Games three times and this is my first medal so I'm very happy," said Pawina, who revealed she had been undergoing intensive physiotherapy on a right-knee injury sustained before this event.

"I've been seeing the physios and they've helped me lessen the injury.

"I was hoping for a world record in the clean and jerk but not in the snatch," she added. She said she had not decided in which category she would compete at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

The Thai lifter was bullish when asked about her chances had Chinese Ouyang, who was carried from the stage after failing with her final attempt, been able to complete her third lift. "I am confident I would have won anyway," she said.

Pawina was later congratulated on her achievements by Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont in a telephone conversation last night.

Earlier, Thailand handed another birthday gift to His Majesty the King, who turns 79 today, on the shooting ranges where Supamas Wankaew, Paramaporn Ponglaokham and Thanyalak Chotpaibunsin won the 50m rifle prone team title with an aggregate score of 1,767 points to give the Kingdom its first gold medal of the Games.

Teenager Thanyalak picked up an individual silver in the same event after scoring 591 points.

"I gift our medals to the King. We can't give him a better present," said the 16-year-old Bangkokian.

Before the shooting competition began, Thai dignitaries present in Doha, including HRH Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana, Voravee Wirasamban, the Thai ambassador to Qatar, Olympic Committee of Thailand members, and some athletes gathered at the Intercontinental Hotel to take part in a victory candle-lighting ceremony to celebrate His Majesty's birthday and the 60th anniversary of his accession to the throne.

In tennis, Paradorn Srichaphan failed to shake off a wrist injury and missed Thailand's match against Sri Lanka yesterday, raising doubts over his participation in the singles.

Paradorn had been expected to play alongside Danai Udomchoke but failed to take the court. Sonchat Ratiwatana took his place as Thailand won 2-1.

"I hope Paradorn will play on Tuesday [today]," said Sonchat. "He wasn't able to play today because his wrist was hurting him."

Last week, Paradorn, once ranked No 9 in the world but now ranked 53, said his fitness was fine.

"My fitness is okay, it's just tough to stay focused for the whole year," he had said then.

"The tape is just to support it. It's a little tendinitis, but nothing to worry about."

Pardorn is the defending singles champion and one of the favourites to win it again.

Meanwhile, in boxing, Thai light flyweight Suban Pannon booked a quarter-final berth after beating North Korean Ro-sok 30-21 yesterday, as did Olympic bantamweight silver medallist Worapoj Petchkoom after stopping Macau's Sou Weng Chon with an RSC in the third round. Lightweight Pichai Sayota was due to take on Uzbekistan's Bekzod Khidirov late last night for a place in the quarter-finals.

In sepak takraw, the Thai men joined the women in progressing to the semi-finals following an impressive 3-0 win over Indonesia yesterday. The men will face Burma in today's semi-final, while the women will face China. 

Preechachan  Wiriyanuppapong

The Nation

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