Mu lifts China to new heights

DOHA, Dec 6 (Reuters) Super-heavyweight weightlifter Mu Shuangshuang snatched a world record as the Qatari capital continued to ring to the sound of the Chinese national anthem today.

''March of the Volunteers'' had already been played eight times by late afternoon on day five of the 15-day continental Games and China had increased their golden haul to 68 titles.

Mu lifted 139kgs -- 9kgs more than her bodyweight -- in the snatch on the way to grabbing China's 10th weightlifting gold in Doha, pipping the previous mark held by South Korea's Jang Mi-ran by 1kg.

Jang failed her attempt at 139kg and had to settle for silver when she came up short trying to jerk 182kgs above her head in the second part of the contest.

''This time I did it,'' said Mu, who tied with Jang at the last two world championships but lost gold because of her heavier weight.

''And now that I have, I'm going to keep doing it forever.'' Vietnam won their first gold medal, beating traditional sepaktakraw powerhouse Thailand in a thrilling women's team final.

VIETNAMESE HEART It took the Vietnamese four hours to eke out a remarkable victory against the red-hot favourites and defending champions at the Al-Sadd Sports Club.

''We might not be as proficient in our skills, but the girls do have a big heart,'' overjoyed Vietnamese coach Tung Lap Ha said.

''The Vietnamese star on our bandanas represents how much we love our country.'' Kazakhstan continued to prosper, picking up their ninth and 10th titles with victories in the men's cycling team time trial and men's 10 metre running target team shooting event.

Andrey Mizurov, who also won the Asian Games team time trial 12 years ago in Hiroshima, said the cycling title would be a boost to the sport in the former Soviet state.

''This is yet another gold medal for us. A plus for our country. It means not everything is lost. We will continue to pave the way for the next generation,'' the 33-year-old said.

Kazakhstan's shooting success was made more likely by China's decision not to field a team in the discipline, although Gan Lin ran away with the individual title.

Gan's second gold of the games was one of five for the Chinese as once again their marksmen and women set the pace early in the day.

Their women rowers also got in on the act, when Li Qin and Tian Ling won the women's double sculls and Cheng Ran, Gao Yanhua, Mu Suli and Yu Chengxi picked up the women's fours.

REUTERS PDS RAI2119