I

ndonesia made a clean sweep in the first day of the weightlifting competition at the 26th SEA Games, with Eko Yuli Irawan winning the gold medal in the men’s 62 kilogram division while sharpening his own Games record from two years ago.

The three weightlifting golds widened the gap in the medal tally, as Indonesia had already bagged 124 gold, 92 silver and 84 bronze medals.

Vietnam stands second in the medal tally, with 71 gold, 67 silver and 69 bronze medals, followed by Thailand with 68 gold, 64 silver and 76 bronze.

Eko, the 2008 Olympic silver medalist in the 56 kilogram division, lifted 166 kg on Friday in the clean-and-jerk, 1 kg more than the his record lift in the 2009 Vientiane SEA Games.

“I have set new records at the last three SEA Games, so I only have to beat my own record,” he said.

The 22-year-old, who took the bronze in this year’s world championships, lifted 136 kg in the snatch for a total of 302 kg in the division.

Fellow Indonesian Muhakmad Hasbi lifted 122 kg in the snatch and 161 kg in the clean and jerk for a total of 283 kg to claim the silver medal while Vietnamese Nguyen Ngee Trung brought home the bronze after lifting 125 kg in the snatch and 147 kg in the clean and jerk for a total of 272 kg.

Eko said his eyes were set on next year’s Olympics in London. He wanted to prove to those doubting his post-marriage achievements.

Since the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Indonesia’s lifters have always brought home medals.

Indonesian Triyatno lifted 181 kg in the clean and jerk, a new Games record since the last one he set in the 2009 Games at 180 kg and 140 kg in the snatch for a total of 321 kg.

Triyatno, who turns 24 on Dec. 10, says his victory is not just about winning gold for his country, but also to prove that he is still unbeatable.

Dani of Indonesia and Kyaw Moe Win of Myanmar both lifted a total of 321 kg (140 kg in the snatch and 170 kg in the clean and jerk), but Dani was awarded the silver medal because his weight was 0.84 kg lighter than Kyaw.

Sandow Waldemar Nasution of Indonesia won the men’s 77 kilogram gold medal after lifting 326 kg (146 kg in the snatch and 180 kg in the clean and jerk).

“This gold is to redeem my failure in the 2009 Games,” he said.

Thailand brought home the silver and bronze medals thanks to Somphon Kaeokoet’s total lift of 324 kg (148 kg in the snatch and 176 kg in the clean and jerk) and Ekkachai Yeeram with 312 kg (137 kg in the snatch and 175 kg in the clean and jerk), respectively. Sandow — who won gold in the 2005 and 2007 SEA Games — said that his victory on Friday confirmed his status as the region’s best in the division.

“I tried my best this year and thank God I could prove that I’m still the best in this class,” he said.