Jiang, 27, national champion, hoisted¹ 373kg in total, with 173 kg in snatch² and 200kg in clean and jerk³.

"It's an ordinary performance as I didn't make any improvement,¡± Jiang said.

Moldodosov Ulanbek from Kyrgyzstan took the silver at 337kg. Lee Se-Won from South Korea settled for the bronze at 330kg.

Jiang began his first attempts with 163 kg in snatch and 193kg in jerk both after other 12 competitors finished their lifts. He snatched⁴ 173kg after failing in the second lift of 170kg and his third lift in jerk with 205kg.

"I would be satisfied if I had made the third attempt," he said.However, Chen Wenbin, coach of China men's weightlifting team was very satisfied with Jiang.

"It's his best performance recently, both in snatch and jerk," Chen said. The gold medalist said he wants to improve his performance to 180kg in snatch and 210kg in jerk this year.

"I will try my best for the 2008 Olympics," he said.