(Beijing, January 23) The "Good Luck Beijing" International Weightlifting Invitational Tournament concluded at the Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics (BUAA) Gymnasium this evening. Ma Wenguang, President of the Chinese Weightlifting Association (CWA) and director of the Weightlifting, Wrestling and Judo Administrative Center under the General Administration of Sports of China (GASC), said that the Beijing tournament had received favorable comments from many people. In the meantime, Ma analyzed and forecast the performance of the Chinese weightlifting team at the forthcoming Beijing Olympic Games.
Ma said that despite China's technical superiority in the sport of weightlifting, it will be the first time for Beijing to host the Olympic Games. As a test run of the Olympic weightlifting competition, all departments concerned from the Beijing 2008 Organizing Committee (BOCOG), GASC and CWA to BUAA Gymnasium attached great importance to the hosting of the two-day tournament.
It was true, Ma noted, that few world-class weightlifters showed up at this test event, however, Ma believed, a great many records would be produced at the Beijing Olympic Games, with the best conditions provided by the host country. because China has made fullest preparations for the Olympics Games and has provided Chinese weightlifters with the best conditions. In such a favorable environment, weightlifters would be in top form.
As to the high hopes the Chinese people placed on their weightlifters for the Beijing Games, Ma predicted that the competition would be extremely intense in light of the current situation in world weightlifting. According to him, the World Weightlifting Championships used to have only 40 to 50 member associations participating, but the number increased by 1/3 to as many as 98 at the 2007 world fixture. Judging by last year's World Championships, a number of newcomers have come to the fore in each of the categories, and so China can no longer claim to have overwhelming superiority in any category. The Chinese women's weightlifting team is indeed very strong in all seven categories, but there will be three to five competitors from other teams vying with them for top honors in each category. How to withstand the tremendous pressure brought by the home crowds and overcome all sorts of difficulties in such a high-level tournament will be a new test to the Chinese weightlifters. However, Ma said he had perfect confidence in Chinese weightlifters' ability to face up to the challenge.
As President of the CWA Ma said he certainly hoped to present medals to Chinese weightlifters at the Beijing Games. According to the Olympic rules, China can only field four lifters at most in seven women's categories. He hoped all of them would do their very best to win honors for the host nation.