Taiwan weightlifter wins silver at Youth Olympics

Singapore, Aug. 16 (CNA) Taiwanese weightlifter Kuo Hsing-chun won a silver medal at the Youth Olympics Games here Monday, the first medal of the competition for the country. Kuo, who was competing in the women's 53 kg division, won the second place with a snatch of 77 kg and a clean and jerk of 97 kg, giving a total of 174 kg. Kuo heaved a sigh of relief when she was cleared for the 53 kg division because her weight dipped to 52.9 kg only that morning and there had been concerns she would be too heavy for the category. Bulgarian lifter Kostova Boyanka won gold with a snatch of 85 kg and a clean and jerk of 107 kg for a total of 192 kg, while Safitri Dewi of Indonesia took bronze with a snatch of 71 kg and a clean and jerk of 100 kg for a total of 171 kg. Tai Hsia-ling, the minister in charge of Taiwan's Sports Affairs Council, attended the event and afterward presented Kuo with a congratulatory message on behalf of President Ma Ying-jeou, as well as a cash prize. The games, which are the first Olympics designed for athletes between the ages of 14 and 18, opened in Singapore Saturday. Some 3,200 athletes from around the world are competing in 26 sports over 12 days. Taiwan is fielding a 40-member delegation to the games under the name of Chinese Taipei. (By Tang Pei-chun and Maubo Chang)ENDITEM/J

Taiwan weightlifter wins silver at Youth Olympics Singapore, Aug. 16 (CNA) Taiwanese weightlifter Kuo Hsing-chun won a silver medal at the Youth Olympics Games here Monday, the first medal of the competition for the country.