BEIJING, Aug 13: Defending champion Taner Sagir of Turkey was eliminated from the Beijing Olympics weightlifting competition on Wednesday after failing all three snatch attempts.

The Turk failed to convert three tries at 165kg.

Sagir, the 77kg champion at the Athens Games and world champion in 2006, appeared to sprain his right shoulder at the first attempt and failed to achieve liftoff in subsequent tries.

His exit left the field clear for Li Hongli to win China’s seventh gold medal at the weightlifting competition, after Liu Chunhong’s world record-breaking effort in the women’s 69kg class earlier Wednesday.

Li leads the field as he converted his initial snatch effort of 163kg as well as his second lift of 168kg. However he failed in his final hoist of 170kg.—AFP