I'm closing in on world-beater Zhou: Russian weightlifter

Moscow, Aug 16 - Russian weightlifter Tatiana Kashirina Thursday said she is satisfied with her Olympic silver medal because her performance took her one step closer to beating her Chinese rival Zhou Lulu.

Zhou won gold with a world record total of 333kg in the women’s unlimited weight category at the Olympics earlier this month.

Kashirina came second in a record-breaking duel to Zhou, who also beat the Russian to gold at last year’s world championships.

The Russian lifted a total of 332 kg but failed in the final lift that would have given her gold, although she left with a world record of 151 kg in the snatch.

“As for Zhou Lulu, I have come closer to her,” Kashirina said.

“At the world championships I lost to her by a fair margin, seven kilograms if I’m not mistaken, and now I’ve only lost by a kilogram and it wasn’t that easy for her.”

“She is also heavier than me, 28kg heavier.”

Chinese officials could yet find a stronger lifter for the category, Kashirina warned.

“If this time they have put this girl to compete, next time they might put someone even stronger.”

Kashirina, 21, has won every European title since 2009 and won the 2010 world championship, when Zhou did not compete.