Rio 2016 weightlifting action is due to begin tomorrow ©Getty Images

China’s hopes of immediate weightlifting success at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games rest on rising star Hou Zhihui, who is set to compete in the women’s 48 kilograms event at the Riocentro - Pavilion 2 venue tomorrow.

Aged 19 years and 141 days on the day of competition, Hou can become the second youngest woman to win Olympic gold in weightlifting after Zulfiya Chinshanlo of Kazakhstan won gold aged 19 years and four days in the women's 53kg in 2012.

Chinshanlo may be stripped of her medal, however, having reportedly been among the athletes who tested positive following a re-analysis of samples from London 2012.

Hou, an Olympic Games debutant, is likely to face a tough challenge from 2015 World Championship silver medallist Thi Huyen Vuong of Vietnam as well as Thailand’s Sopita Tanasan and 2014 Asian Games champion Margarita Yelisseyeva of Kazakhstan.

Vuong can give her country its first women's weightlifting medal and its second across both genders after Hoang Anh Tuan claimed silver in the men's 56kg in 2008.

Tanasan will be looking to earn Thailand its second Olympic medal in this event after Aree Wiratthaworn claimed bronze at Athens 2004.

Japan's Hiromi Miyake will be making her fourth Olympic appearance at 48kg, but her preparation for Rio 2016 has been far from ideal.

"My lower back is a bit painful at the moment, which makes this competition very difficult," said Miyake, who claimed silver four years ago and can become the first lifter to win two medals in the event at the Olympics.

"Three months ago the pain started and every day I have plenty of care, including acupuncture and lots of massage, but I am okay and ready to compete."

Asian Games champion Margarita Yelisseyeva is expected to challenge for honours ©Getty Images
Asian Games champion Margarita Yelisseyeva is expected to challenge for honours ©Getty Images

At least two 48kg competitors who lift tomorrow have overcome career-threatening setbacks.

Beijing 2008 silver medallist Chen Wei-Ling of Chinese Taipei, who retired in 2011 before returning to competition in 2015, has undergone five knee operations.

Ukraine’s Iuliia Paratova, who came fifth at London 2012, tore a knee meniscus while competing at the 2015 World Championships in Houston and competes in Rio de Janeiro after opting to recover without surgery.

Thirteen athletes from 13 countries will contest the first of 15 weightlifting gold medals.

China won gold in the event in 2008 and 2012, through Wang Mingjuan and Chen Xiexia respectively, and silver in 2004, through Li Zhuo.

The weightlifting powerhouse has 10 competitors entered across 10 bodyweight categories at Rio 2016.