Sport / Powerlifter Wang expects gold in Beijing Olympics

Holding three world championships titles, Wang Mingjuan made her debut impressively in the Asian Games by winning the gold medal in the women's 48kg category in Doha on Saturday. "Though I have won gold medals in the world championships, it is my first time to attend the Asian Games. I take every single competition very seriously, no matter big or small," Wang said. Wang lifted a total of 206kg with ease, 11kg less than the world record set by her teammate Yang Lian in the 2006 worlds. "Winning a gold medal is my main task, and I did not plan to break the world record here. The Asian Games are just like my training class at home." "Taking a gold medal in the Beijing Olympics is always my dream. " The 21-year-old Wang joined the Hunan provincial weightlifting team in 1998 and was enrolled into the national team in 2001. Wang started to show her power in 2002 as she swept the gold medals in the world championships. The 2003 world championships left Wang miserable memories where she injured her left knee badly while competing and the injury also ruled her out of the Athens Olympic Games. "I was so sad for not competing in Athens, and I even thought of retirement but my coach encouraged me to continue my career," Wang once said during the training in Beijing. Wang returned to the weightlifting platform in 2005 and claimed the gold medal in the world championships in Doha with a total of 213kg. She said that victory was so important to her as it proved she had recovered from the injury. "My knee has been fully recovered now, and I don't feel any discomfort while lifting the barbell. I am more confident than before and I think it is a good sign for me in the preparation for the Beijing Olympics," she added. "My injury really taught me a lesson and made me think a lot. There are many ups and downs in your life and what you can do is to cherish every opportunity you have and try your best." Source: Xinhua