Wang Mingjuan wins women's 48kg gold

LONDON - Chinese veteran lifter Wang Mingjuan overcame a case of jittery to claim the gold that she has been coveting for 12 years.

The 26-year-old Chinese won her first ever Olympic gold in an unexpected easy way, finishing with a total of 205kg, six more more the silver medalist Hiromi Miyake from Japan. Ryang Chun Hwa of PRK won the bronze with 192kg.

Wang Mingjuan of China reacts during women's 48kg weightlifting competition, at London 2012 Olympic Games in London, Britain, on July 28, 2012. Wang won gold medal with a total weight of 205kg. [Photo/Xinhua]

"The gold is the reward for my 12 years hard work, my dream came true today," the diminutive girl sighed.

"I have won golds in all other international events, only the Olympic gold kept eluding me. Now I can say I have a perfect career now," she said, weeping.

The 1.50-meter high girl remained unbeaten in all international competitions, but missed two previous Olympics due to injury and poor forms.

She appeared a little nervous before taking the platform to begin her Olympic campaign, and then failed to lift 88kg in her first snatch attempt.

"I would not tell you what happened then. You know for me, one Olympic gold is more important than 100 World Championships ones," she said.

Ten years ago, Wang made a sweeping of three golds in the World Championships, but injured her left knee and was ruled out of the 2004 Olympics. She then missed the Beijing Olympics due to bad forms.

She was in an understandably stressed mood after finally getting the chance to compete at the Olympics, according to her coach Zhou Jihong.

"She told me before the competition she was nervous, but with the competition going on, she felt it was not that nerve-wrecking at all," she said.

"After her first attempt failed, she told me that not to worry and she believed in herself," Zhou said.

Ma Wenguang, president of Chinese Weightlifting Association, reckoned that Wang should have been nervous after taking the platform.

Wang Mingjuan of China competes in women's 48kg weightlifting competition, at London 2012 Olympic Games in London, Britain, on July 28, 2012. Wang won gold medal with a total weight of 205kg. [Photo/Xinhua]

"She was very nervous, I was very worried down there too," he said. "Anyway, we won the first weightlifting gold of this Olympic Games, I think this could be a promising start."

Wang recovered admirably to lift 88kg and 91kg in her remaining two snatch attempts to build a commanding four-kg lead over Miyake.

Miyake, who succeeded in all her three snatch attempts, faltered in jerk and failed to lift 113kg in her third attempt.

The 26-year-old Japanese vowed to win the gold before coming to London saying: "I only want the gold, I will throw the medal into the Thames if it is not gold."

But the determined Wang was unbeatable. After making sure of winning the gold, she then lifted 114kg but failed to hold up 116kg.

"I should say Wang's performance is mediocre," said Zhang Guozheng, who won the men's 69kg gold in the 2004 Olympic Games.

"There is indeed no competition for her, even she did not perform, she still could win the gold. The Thailand girl had been expected to make some trouble, but unfortunately she injured her elbow at the start," he said.

Zhang was referring to Panida Khamsri, the silver medalist of last year's World Championships, who turned out to be the biggest disappointment of the day after she failed in her three attempts to lift 81kg.