BEIJING, July 10: Karnam Malleswari earned the first gold for India alongwith two silvers in the women's 59 kg class even as superpower China maintained their domination with yet another world record on the third day of the Asian Weightlifting Championship at Yangzhou today.

Malleswari bagged the overall gold with a combined effort of 217.5 kg, pipping silver medallist Patmawati of Indonesia and bronze winner Wu Mei-Yi of Chinese Taipei, both of whom managed 215 kg each.

The Indian, who emerged as the 54kg world champion in the 1995 World Championship at Guangzhou (China) with a new world record, won a silver each in snatch and clean and jerk hoisting 97.5 kg and 120 kg respectively.Mei-Yi claimed the snatch gold with a lift of 97.5 kg, while Patmawati was placed third (95 kg).

The indonesian, however, won the clean and jerk gold lifting 120 kg, the same managed by Malleswari, while Mei-Yi finished third (117.5 kg).Though the Chinese lifters returned empty handed in this class, they continued their awesome display with Chen Xiaomin creating a new women's 64 kg snatch world record.

The Chinese girl lifted 107.5 kg on her way to improve upon the previous best of 106 kg set by compatriot Li Hongyun in May last year.Chen swept all the three golds as a total lift of 235 kg ensured her overall title and 127.5 kg fetched her the clean and jerk honour.

Chen Jen-Lien of Chinese Taipei (102.5+125 = 227.5) and Hou Fangpeng of China (100+122.5 = 222.5) finished second and third in all the three categories snatch, clean and jerk and combined effort.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.