International Herald Tribune, France

Bulgaria’s Stoitsov wins 2 gold for clean and jerk and Olympic total
The Associated PressPublished: September 21, 2007

CHIANG MAI, Thailand: Bulgaria’s Ivan Stoitsov won a close fight to
take two gold medals in the clean and jerk and the Olympic total in
the World Weightlifting Championships in Thailand on Friday.

Stoitsov bedazzled the fans by lifting a 205kg in the clean and jerk
and beat Armenia’s Gevorg Davtyan by one kilogram in the total event.

The Bulgarian weightlifter lifted 158kg in the snatch but came back
strong to win the clean and jerk and a combined weight.

"I was absolutely ready to battle even if I had to lose five kilograms
before the fight. This is my personal best record," said Stoitsov who
started weightlifting at the age of 13.

"Although I did not do my best today, I won two golds in my first
major competition. I hope to do the same in the Olympics," Stoitsov
added.

Stoitsov along with South Koreans Kim Kwang-hoon and Sa Jae-hyouk were
neck and neck in the clean and jerk. Kim lifted 201kg to settle for
the silver, beating Sa by 1 kilogram.

European champion Armenia’s Gevorg Davtyan lifted 164kg to take the
snatch silver and 198kg in the clean and jerk for a combined 362kg
which fetched him the Olympic total silver.

"For a few minutes I felt I was the champion. But the best man won
today and I congratulated him," said the Armenian who was celebrating
with his coach after the clean and jerk.

Asian champion Li Hong from China won the bronze with a total lift of
361kg. He made a hat-trick in the snatch which he has dominated since
2005 with the lifting of 166kg. The snatch bronze went to Russian Oleg
Perepechenkov after lifting 163kg.

China has won 13 gold medals out of 18 on offer. Bulgaria has won two
golds while Cuba, South Korean and North Korea have won one each.