Thai Olympic champ leads weightligting

BACOLOD CITY - Three gold medals are up for grabs today as weightlifting competition begins in the 23rd Southeast Asian Games at the Bacolod Convention Plaza Hotel here.

Eight countries are seeing action in women’s 48 kgs. and 58 kgs. and men’s 69 kgs.

The competitors are led by Olympics gold medalist and world champion and record holder Paweena Thongsuk of Thailand, who will see action in 69-kg. division and Athens bronze medalist Wandeee Kameaim.

Chirat Udomkitpanya, team manager of the Thailand weightlifting teams, earlier said that he is expecting a minimum of two gold medals from their male lifter and three from their women’s team.

Thailand is aiming to improve on first runner-up finish in the 2003 SEA Games in Vietnam, while the women’s squad, mentored by Aphinya

Pharksupho, is eyeing to retain its overall championship. — Antonietta Lopez