By Kang Seung-woo
Staff Reporter
Three-time weightlifting world champion Jang Mi-ran has eyed a new ambition.
It is improving her own world record.
``I need to have good hands at both snatch and clean and jerk once I have set my goal at a total of 330 kilograms,'' the 23-year-old said on her arrival at the Incheon International Airport on Friday morning.
She bettered her former world record by one kilogram by totaling 319 kilograms, 139 in the snatch and 180 in the clean and jerk, at the World Championships in Chiang Mai, Thailand, Wednesday.
Jang and her arch foe Mu Shuangshuang of China lifted the total record of 319 kgs there, but Jang won her third consecutive title thanks to her body weight advantage. Jang weighs 115 kilograms and Mu is 20 kgs heavier.
``As Mu is a tough opponent to beat, I was worried about it,'' she said. ``Whenever I face her, I would try to stay focused on achieving my goal rather than defeating her. It worked again this time.
``One week before the competition, I hurt my back, but I had hard rehabilitation and reinforcement training during the assigned time, which was helpful to my recovery. At the championships, my manager and coach directed me depending on the circumstances and I tried not to fail at every trial.''
Jang has already set her sight on a gold medal in the Beijing Olympics next year.
``Of course, I want to win gold,'' she said. ``Thorough preparation will help improve my record.''
She will compete at the National Sports Festival to be held in Gwangju next month.
``The National Sports Festival is a contest like others,'' Jang, who will represent Gyeonggi Province, said. ``I will do my best, setting up my own strategy and training up to it.''