Summary Lin Qingfeng of China won the gold in 69kg class in weightlifting at the Asian Games.
INCHEON (AFP) - China finally ended North Korea s weightlifting stranglehold when Olympic champion Lin Qingfeng took their first gold of the competition after a close battle packed with incident in the men s 69kg.
Both Lin and North Korea s Kim Myong-Hyok totalled 342kg but Lin took the gold by virtue of having the lighter bodyweight to get China s lifting challenge back on track.
"I was confident because I knew I could beat him," said Lin afterwards, clearly delighted that China had their first gold and maiden victory over North Korea after three days of competition.
"I don t know if I will be selected for the 2016 Olympics. But I know China will pick the best weightlifter and he will beat Kim again to win gold."
Mohammed Kadhum of Iraq, ranked only 10th in the world, was a surprised and delighted bronze medallist on 325kg after three higher-rated lifters in the medal hunt all failed to last the course.
In an enthralling battle, Kim smashed a 16-year-old Asian Games snatch record in the first discipline by 2kg at 157kg only to see Lin raise it again with 158kg on his next attempt.
With one attempt remaining, Kim upped it to 160kg, pushing the bar above his head and roaring with delight as three white lights from the judges confirmed the record was his -- fully 5kg above the old mark set in Bangkok way back in 1998.
Kim opened with 182kg in the second set of lifts but Lin s comfortable 184kg put him in gold medal position. Kim then failed with two attempts at a world-record equalling 198kg as he tried to ramp up the pressure on Lin, handing the gold to China.
"I failed to make it although I did my best," a disappointed Kim told AFP. "I will redouble my efforts to make sure I will get a gold medal next time."
Before that there had been a crushing disappointment for Indonesia when their bronze hope Ketut Ariana, the 2013 Asian championships silver medallist, was unable to complete a legal lift in the snatch at his opening weight of 147kg and left the stage distraught.
The same fate befell Asian champion Jaber Behrouzi of Iran in the clean and jerk as he too failed with all three attempts at 181kg and crashed out.
And there was yet more drama to come when home hope Won Jeong-Suk collapsed in agony attempting the lift that would have given him the bronze.
Going for the 183kg in the clean and jerk his left knee buckled horribly leaving him crying out on the stage.
A screen was hastily erected to shield the injured lifter from spectators and, after treatment from medics, he was carried away on a stretcher unable to continue.
An official later told AFP that he had been taken to hospital for a scan, but it was believed the injury was not serious.
