Yar Thet Pan trains at Aung San Indoor Stadium, Yangon, in this file photo taken June 15, 2007. Pic: Aye Zaw Myo

MYANMAR will send a team of women to the Royal World Weightlifting Championships being held in Chiang Mai, Thailand, from September 14-26, the Myanmar Weightlifting Federation (MWF) announced last week.

MWF secretary U San Myint said seven Myanmar women would compete at the event, including Yar Thet Pan, who was named Myanmar sportswoman of 2006 by the Ministry of Sports following silver medal performances at the 2005 SEA Games and 2006 Asian Games.

Each lifter will be competing in a different weight class at the tournament, which serves as an important qualifying round for competitors aiming for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

“Yar Thet Pan has the most potential to get a medal at the tournament and I hope the others will help put Myanmar in a good position on the table to help us qualify for the Olympic Games in China next year. I hope we make it as one of the top 14 on the table,” U San Myint said.

Countries ranked within the top six can send six lifters to the coming Olympics. Those placed 7-13 can send five weightlifters, while those ranked 14-20 can send four and countries finishing 21-27 can send three.

Myanmar women have competed at the world weightlifting championships twice before, with a team finishing as runners-up behind China in Chiang Mai in 1997 and sixth in Athens, Greece, in 1999.