Weightlifter Sinphet grabs bronze medal for Thailand

RIO DE JANEIRO, Aug 8 (TNA) -- Sinphet Kruaithong won a bronze medal in weightlifting competition, the second medal in the Rio Games 2016. Sinphet grabbed bronze in the men’s 56kg category, becoming the first Thai men’s weightlifter to win a medal in the Olympic Games. This was the second medal for Thailand in Rio Games after Weightlifter Sopita Tanasan, the 22-year-old from the southern province of Chumphon won the first gold medal in the women's 48kg class at the 31st Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. On Monday morning (Thailand time), Sinphet from the northeastern of Surin had combined lifts of 289kg in the 56kg division, finishing behind China's Long Qingquan and Om Yun Chol of North Korea. Long Qingquan and Om Yun Chon claimed gold and silver medals with the total lifts of new world record 307kg and 303kg respectively. The 21-year-old Sinphet lifted 132kg in the snatch and 157kg in the clean and jerk for the combined lifts of 289kg in the Olympic total. (TNA)