Thai weightlifting champ dedicates gold to king

AFP:  Thailand’s Sopita Tanasan grabbed the first gold medal of the weightlifting competition at the Rio Games on Saturday and promptly dedicated it to ailing Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

The 21-year-old dominated the women’s 48kg, lifting 92kg in the snatch and 108kg in the clean and jerk for a total of 200kg to finish first in weightlifting’s lightest category.

“I dedicate the medal to our king. That is the Thai way,” Sopita told reporters after she became the fourth women’s weightlifter from Thailand to win an Olympic gold medal.

The 88-year-old Thai king is the world’s longest-reigning monarch and is widely revered in the country where his frail health is a matter of public concern.

He is confined to a wheelchair and has not been seen or spoken in public for nearly a year. Earlier this week the palace said he was being treated for fever and water on the brain.

Sopita, a regular lifter in the 53kg class, took full advantage of the withdrawal through injury this week of hot Chinese favourite Hou Zhihui to win with ease.

The 5ft 1ins Thai hoisted 8kg more than silver medallist Sri Wahyuni Agustiani of Indonesia, while evergreen Japanese lifter Hiromi Miyake took bronze with a total of 188kg.