Kazakhstan's Ilya Ilin claimed the title in men's 94kg category weightlifting on Sunday, winning the first Olympic weightlifting gold for his country.

Ilin, the 2006 world champion, snatched 180kg and jerked 226kg to total 406kg, beating Polish lifter Szymon Kolecki, runner-up at 2006 world championships, by three kilos.

"I've trained very hard for the gold, sometimes into the midnight," he said.

Certainly he has been well-prepared as he even had his hair-cut with a special design.

"It's like a crown. I designed my hair style especially for today's competition," said the newly-crowned.

Ilin's coach jumped onto the platform, giving him a big hug after the 20-year-old successfully jerked 226kg in his third attempt. Ilin also waved to the spectators with excitement.

"I began to congratulate myself because I had done my best," said the overjoyed.

Ilin said his coach helped him and gave him confidence after he hurt the elbow in his second snatch attempt.

"He helped me stand up psychologically," he said.

Gold medalist Ilya Ilin of Kazakhstan poses during the victory ceremony of men's weightlifting 94kg group A competition at Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China, Aug. 17, 2008. Ilya Ilin won the gold medal in the event with a total result of 406kg. [Xinhua Photo]

However, the gold hadn't been locked until Arsen Kasabiev of Georgia failed his last jerk attempt of 231kg. Before him, Kolecki also tried to lift 228kg, fighting for gold, but failed.

There was no clue at all about who would win the gold when the snatch section ended as five lifters finished with the weight between 178kg to 181kg, including Ilin, who gave up the third attempt after the injury.

Kazakhstan joined the Olympic family in 1996 and its historic highlight in weightlifting before Beijing Olympics is getting two silvers.

Kazakhstan women lifters have gained two silvers in Beijing, Irina Nekrassova in the 63kg class and Alla Vazhenina in the 75kg category.

Kolecki, who is also silver medalist at Sydney Olympics, said he enjoyed this silver much more than that of eight years ago.

"In Sydney it was very close and I got injured in the competition," he said.

Russian Khadzhimurat Akkaev, Athens silver medalist, emerged from Group B to get the bronze with a total of 402kg.

Akkaev said if he had competed in Group A, he would have won the Gold.

"My competitors were chasing my kilos," he said and blamed his coach for making him be allocated to Group B. And even in that group, he was only ranked third with an entry total of 390kg.

However, Akkaev admitted he did not have good performance before coming to Beijing.

"I was lifting 390kg to 395kg before the Olympics, but in the process of preparation I improved to lift more," he said.

(Xinhua News Agency August 17, 2008)