You're reading: Dolega could give Poland 2nd weightlifting gold

LONDON — Marcin Dolega is in a good position to win Poland's second weightlifting gold medal in the London Olympics after his top rivals in the 105-kilogram class withdrew.

The three-time world champion was fourth in the
Beijing Olympics with a total of 420 kilograms and will look to crown
his career with a podium finish in the ExCel center.

The gold medalist four years ago, Andrei Aramnau of Belarus, injured his leg last month and won’t join the competition Monday.

Beijing
silver medalist Dmitry Klokov and 2011 world champion Khadzhimurat
Akkaev, both Russians, aren’t likely to show up either. Russian
officials said this week that both are injured, though they remain on
the official entry list.

Oleksiy Torokhtiy of Ukraine and Gia
Machavariani of Georgia could challenge Dolega for the gold in the
decimated field as the Pole’s form is uncertain. Dolega skipped the 2011
worlds due to a shoulder injury and also didn’t compete in the 2012
European championships.

Iran’s Navab Nasirshelal is an outsider,
who snatched 187 kilograms at this year’s Asian championships but bombed
out in the clean and jerk.

Adrian Edward Zielinski won Poland’s first gold medal in London in the men’s 85-kilogram class.

The
105-kilogram competition is the second-to-last on the weightlifting
program, with the super heavyweights scheduled to lift on Tuesday.

The
women’s competition ended Sunday as China’s Zhou Lulu set a total world
record to beat Russia’s Tatiana Kashirina for the gold medal in the
women’s super heavyweight class. Hripsime Khurshudyan of Armenia got
bronze, her country’s first medal in the London Olympics.