The host claimed two more gold medals in powerlifting at the Beijing Paralympic Games on Sunday as Li Ruifang and Liu Lei dominated their categories.

By now China has won ten medals in powerlifting with six golds, two silvers and two bronzes, ranked first in the medal standings, while Egypt, who also has claimed ten medals with four golds, three silver and three bronzes, ranked second.

In the women's over 82.5kg category, veteran Li lifted 165kg to win the fifth gold for the host.

"I feel extremely excited," said the 37-year-old. "I've won the gold medal in 2000 Sydney Paralympic Games and 2004 Athens Paralympic Games, but this time I felt different. This is my proudest one. Before the competition I really wanted to grab the medal from my inner heart, now it's like a dream come true."

Nigeria's Grace Ebere Anozie set the new Paralympic record of 165kg in her second attempt, breaking Li's previous record of 160kg set at the Athens 2004 Paralympic Games. In her second attempt, Li equaled Anozie's new record, making the play-off for the gold and silver medals a nail-biting finish.

But the 167.5kg proved a weight too far for both lifters, with Anozie and Li both faltering in their third attempts. Li beat the Nigerian by weight advantage. Anozie claimed Nigeria's fifth medal in powerlifting in the Beijing Paralympic Games.

Egypt's Nadia Maohamed Ali won the bronze medal in 150kg.

In the men's 75kg category, Liu Lei, winner of the event in 2007 European Championships, lifted to win the sixth gold for China.

Liu made three good lifts in 220kg, 222.5kg and 225kg to claim the gold, while Majid Farzin of Iran took the silver in 212.5kg. Farzin challenged 227.5kg in his third attempt, but failed.

Mutaz Aljuneidi of Jordan finished third in 210kg.

In the women's 75kg category, Lin Tzu-hui lifted 137.5kg to win the first gold medal for Chinese Taipei at the Beijing Paralympics.

The silver went to Randa Tageldin Mohamed of Egypt with 135kg, while Zhang Liping of China took the bronze in 132.5kg.

Egypt also added a gold on Sunday as Heba Said Ahmed lifted 152.5kg to win the gold of the women's 82.5kg category. Ahmed broke the world record in her first attempt with a good lift of 145kg, pushing the record up another 5kg in her second attempt, and she lifted 152.5kg in her third. The hercules hoisted 155kg to set another world record.

Chinese Zuo Jue took the silver in 137.5kg, while the bronze went to Perla Patricia Barcenas of Mexico in 130kg.

(Xinhua News Agency September 14, 2008)