VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnamese weightlifter Tran Le Quoc Toan has ranked in the top three of the men's 56kg division following the latest rankings issued by the International Weightlifting Federation.

Tran Le Quoc Toan wins his men’s 56kg weightlifting event at the SEA Games in Indonesia. (Photo: Tuoi Tre)
It's the highest ever ranking a Vietnamese weightlifter has reached in the men's division.

Toan had a successful year in 2011, bagging a host of medals including a gold in the Southeast Asian Games in Indonesia and a bronze medal in the World Weightlifting Championships in Paris last November.

The 27-year-old also won a bronze medal with a 125kg snatch in the World Weightlifting Championships, but finished fourth with a 275kg total lift.

However, he beat his personal best in the SEA Games to win the gold medal with a 280kg total lift.

It is not yet known if Toan will compete in the London Olympics next summer, but he has made a strong international debut.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News