REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Indonesian weightlifter Eko Yuli Irawan broke the world record at the world weightlifting tournament held in Asghabat, Turkmenistan, on Saturday (Nov 3). He took home the gold medal in the men's 61 kilograms.

Eko who competed in the first ever category of 61 kilograms at the tournament lifted a total of 317 kilograms consisting of 174 kilograms in clean and jerk and 143 kilograms in snatch to break the previous record of 313 kilograms. Team manager Sony Kasiran said in the official statement of the Indonesian Weightlifters Association (PABBSI) Eko's success was inseparable from the strategy the coaching team applied when he filed a request for lifting.

"At the beginning we proposed 177 kilograms in clean and jerk to fool China. But when China and Colombia failed in 172 kilograms, the coaching team proposed 174 kilograms," Sony said.

The silver and bronze medals went to Fabin Li of China with a total lift of 310 kilograms and Fulin Qin of China with a total lift of 308 kilograms. Sony said the world weightlifting championship is the first qualification for the Indonesian lifters to compete in the Olympic Games 2020 in Tokyo.

"We still have eight more series including six series to be held throughout next year and two others in 2020 ahead of the Olympic Games," he said.

Meanwhile, Indonesian lifter Sri Wahyuni who competed in the women's 49 kilograms failed to achieve optimum results. Wahyuni who secured a silver medal at the Asian Games 2018 and the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro finished seventh.

Other Indonesian lifters who will compete in the world weightlifting tournament which will end on Saturday (Nov 10) are Deni and Triyatno who will compete in the men's 67 kilograms and Acchedya Jagaddhita in the women's 55 kilograms.

Lifters who are ranked first to eighth in their respective categories will qualify for the Olympiad 2020.

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