Kuo secured her country's first gold medal in Toyko, crushing her rivals, with Turkmenistan's Polina Guryeva taking silver and Japan's Mikiko Andoh the bronze.

Australia's Erika Yamasaki competed in B division earlier in the day, and with a top lift of 75kg in a snatch and 95kg in the clean and jerk for a combined 170kg, was well down the leaderboard.

In both the snatch and the clean and jerk, even Kuo's first lift was higher than any other athlete managed in three attempts.

After a 103kg snatch, she attempted to break her own world record in the clean and jerk, lifting 141kg, but had to settle for 133kg for combined 236kg - all three new Olympic marks.

Kuo's chances were helped by the lack of an entry from China in the category and a doping ban for Thai 2016 Olympic gold medalist Sukanya Srisurat.

In the women's 64kg division, Australia's Kiana Elliott also competed in the early B division.

She topped the five-athlete field with a 101kg snatch, which was bettered her 2019 Oceania Championships lift by two kilograms.

In the clean and jerk she was below her best, settling for 108kg for a combined 209kg.

The medals will be decided in the A final late Tuesday night.

Australian Associated Press