Thai weightlifter Teerapat Chomcheun shattered a six-year old world record in 50kg youth division as the Asian Junior Weightlifting Championships kicked off at the Army Physical Training and Sports Centre in Lagankhel on Monday.

The 17-year old Chomcheun set record in the clean and jerk before bagging gold in the 19th Youth Asian, 24th Junior Women’s and 31st Junior Men’s Asian Weightlifting Championships. He lifted 127kg in clean and jerk and 95kg in snatch for three gold-medal haul in the 50kg weight category. He broke the record of 126kg set by his countryman Sinphet Kuraithong, who had achieved the feat in 2011 in Pattaya, Thailand.

All three Nepali weightlifters failed to impress in the opening day and were far from claiming a medal though all of them improved their personal best lift. Tushar Buda Magar, who competed in youth’s 56kg, lifted 62kg in snatch and 75kg in clean and jerk for a total lift of 173kg. He stood sixth in Group ‘B’. Magar’s personal best previously was 45kg in snatch and 65 kg in clean and jerk.

Ram Kumar Yadav and Ganesh Ranabhat, who represented the hosts in junior men’s 56kg, finished fourth and sixth respectively. Yadav lifted 75kg in snatch and 90kg in clean and jerk for a total of 165 kg. Ranabhat lifted 68kg in snatch and 82kg in clean and jerk. All Nepali players competing on Monday were pooled in Group ‘B’.

Meanwhile, due to some technical problem, the local organisers failed to provide detailed result of the day. Five Nepali weightlifters, including four women, will compete on Tuesday in the junior women’s 53kg weight category. Sajarudin Alam will compete in junior men’s 62kg.