Humidity in Chiang Mai might challenge Chinese weightlifters to reap laurels in the upcoming world weightlifting championships, but they have prepared for that even before they arrived.

 

"It is not too hot here, but I can't bear the humidity. Even the air feels like full of water," said world champion Qiu Le after he finished training on Friday.

 

Compared with the dryness in Beijing, humidity has become the main obstacle to the weightlifting powerhouse Chinese team to show their strength in Chiang Mai, a northern city in Thailand.

 

According to the official web site of the worlds, the temperature here was 26 Celsius on Friday and the humidity is 92%, even 30% higher than Bangkok.

 

"I had the similar experience in Santo Domingo worlds last year. It was wet there and I felt tired even before the jerk competition began, but luckily, I won the gold medal in the men's 62kg category finally," Qiu said.

 

"I have got prepared psychologically for the wet weather before I came yesterday. At least, I will not be panic again in the competition."

 

The head coach of Chinese women's team Ma Wenhui admitted that the humidity would be a "challenge" to Chinese lifters, but he was happy that the weather would not disturb them when they competed in the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008.

 

"It is a great opportunity for us to perform better in the familiar weather condition. It is not be too hot nor wet in August in Beijing," Ma said.

 

A record number of 94 countries and regions have so far indicated their participation in the worlds, a main qualification event for the Beijing Olympics, to take place 16-26 September in Chiang Mai.

 

"We shouldn't complain about weather, because every lifter faces the same situation. I believe many of them feel uncomfortable with the humidity," said Ma.

 

(Xinhua News Agency September 15, 2007)