Liu Xia betters world lifting record

China's Liu Xia broke the women's 63-kg weightlifting World record in the clean and jerk by one-half kilos at the Asian Games on Thursday.

Liu, 21, lifted 135.5 kg, bettering the mark of 135.0, set by Nataliya Skakun of Ukraine on April 24, but then failed to improve upon her effort at 137.5 kg.

Under weightlifting rules, the half-kilogram does not count in her total. She won the event with a total of 240, including a snatch of 105.

Her aggregate is also an Asian Games record, surpassing the earlier mark of 232.5.

Myanmar's Khin Moe Nwe won the silver with an aggregate of 220, with 100 in snatch and 120 in clean and jerk.

Taiwan's Kuo Ping Chun got the bronze with 217.5, raising 97.5 in snatch and 120 in clean and jerk.

India's Pratima Kumari finished fifth with total of 205.0 -- 90.0 in snatch and 115.0 in clean and jerk.

"I'm obviously very excited at breaking the world record," said Liu, a student at the Shandong Sports Institute.

"It's no great surprise to break the world record, but I wasn't expecting to do so this year."

Liu said she had gradually prepared for the Asian Games gold medal after winning her weight category in the Asian championships earlier this year.

"Maybe when I wake up tomorrow, I'll have a different feeling as the holder of a world record," she said. "Now that this significant barrier had been crossed, I'm going to aspire to set more world marks.

"If I can maintain my form, my target will obviously be an Olympic gold medal in Athens. I love this sport and that should keep me on course."