Asian Weightlifting Championships 2025: Wang Weidong Takes Men’s 55 kg Title in Jiangshan
Author:
The Men’s 55 kg competition at the 2025 Asian Weightlifting Championships in Jiangshan, China, delivered an intense and technically brilliant session early in the championship week. Hosted at the top-tier Hushan Sports Park, this event set the pace for what would become one of the most talked-about categories of the tournament.
Championship Context: Speed, Strategy, and Rivalries
This lightweight category, always a fan favorite, showcased explosive lifting and razor-thin margins. The field included a well-balanced mix of veterans and emerging athletes, making it a tightly contested class with a strategic tug-of-war across the leaderboard.
Meet the Athletes
- WANG Weidong (CHN) – 21-year-old lifter, national champion, showcasing remarkable progress and power on home soil.
- LAI Gia Thanh (VIE) – A Southeast Asian standout and previous World Cup medalist known for his textbook snatch technique.
- AL SALEEM Mansour (KSA) – A 37-year-old veteran of the sport, returning to the Asian Championships with composure and tactical precision.
- AGAD Fernando Jr (PHI) – A talented and promising weightlifter, and a bronze medalist at the 2024 World Cup.
- MOHAMAD Rahimi Bin Sulaiman (MAS) – Known for technical stability, aiming to climb ranks.
- TANG Chun-Yen (TPE) – The youngest of the field, competing with courage and gaining experience.
Snatch Session: Tight Margins and Mental Edge
The snatch portion of the session saw LAI Gia Thanh in near-perfect form, successfully lifting 115 kg, 118 kg, and finally 120 kg, leading the session. WANG Weidong followed with a strong 119 kg lift on the third attempt. The first attempt at 115 kg was unsuccessful, the second at 115 kg was successful.
AL SALEEM held steady, completing 117 kg on the second attempt for bronze. AGAD managed 113 kg, just off the podium. Rahimi lifted 106 kg, while the young TANG completed 90 kg for a new personal best.
Snatch Medals:
🥇 LAI Gia Thanh (VIE) – 120 kg
🥈 WANG Weidong (CHN) – 119 kg
🥉 AL SALEEM Mansour (KSA) – 117 kg
Full Snatch Results:
Clean & Jerk: WANG Strikes Back
In the clean & jerk, AGAD Fernando lifted 141 kg on the second attempt 141 kg, placing pressure on the leaders. LAI matched with 140 kg but missed his final attempt. AL SALEEM completed 137 kg, consistent but short of podium-changing lifts.
WANG Weidong entered the platform with a clear goal. He completed 142 kg and then nailed 146 kg (on the third lift)—winning the clean & jerk and propelling himself to the top of the total standings.
Clean & Jerk Medals:
🥇 WANG Weidong (CHN) – 146 kg
🥈 AGAD Fernando Jr (PHI) – 141 kg
🥉 LAI Gia Thanh (VIE) – 140 kg
Full Clean & Jerk Results:
Final Totals and Medal Recap
WANG Weidong clinched the gold with a total of 265 kg, narrowly outlifting LAI by five kilograms. The battle for bronze was decided by the fact that Al Salem was the first to reach the required total, with AL SALEEM edging out AGAD despite identical totals.
Total Medal Recap:
🥇 Total Gold – WANG Weidong (CHN) – 265 kg (119/146)
🥈 Total Silver – LAI Gia Thanh (VIE) – 260 kg (120/140)
🥉 Total Bronze – AL SALEEM Mansour (KSA) – 254 kg (117/137)
Full Total Results:
Records and Highlights
No world or Asian records were broken in the 55 kg session. However, WANG Weidong’s clean & jerk performance stood out as one of the top lifts in the early part of the championships. The tie for third and the strong showing by younger lifters like TANG Chun-Yen added drama and promise for the future.
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Author: Hladkova Vladyslava
Media Team Member
Best Results: Snatch – 57 kg,
C&J – 73 kg
I’m Vladyslava, and sport has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. Over the past 10 years, I’ve explored it all – from CrossFit and powerlifting to running a half marathon. But my true passion found its home in Olympic weightlifting.
I’m proud to be a Ukrainian Weightlifting Champion (2018) and a prize winner of national championships in 2018–2019. My best lifts? A 57 kg snatch and a 73 kg clean & jerk in the 51 kg weight class. I’m also a Candidate for Master of Sports in weightlifting – and I’m still chasing new goals every day.
Beyond training, I’ve earned two Master’s degrees: one in Sport Management and another in Physical Education. Whether I’m lifting a barbell or helping others grow in sport, I’m all in – because for me, sport isn’t just a hobby, it’s a lifestyle.