Tu Tung Do of Vietnam won a hat-trick of gold medals with three youth world records as the International Weightlifting Federation Youth World Championships began in Las Vegas ©IWF

Tu Tung Do of Vietnam won a hat-trick of gold medals with three youth world records as the International Weightlifting Federation Youth World Championships began in Las Vegas.

The 15-year-old dominated the men's 49 kilograms division which was the only weight class held on day one at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort and Casino.

Tu, who was already the Asian youth champion, won the overall title with a huge 220kg, more than 40kg more than the silver medallist.

This was a youth world record - as were his snatch and clean and jerk lifts of 95kg and 125kg respectively.

Romania's Florin Krupla won overall silver on 180kg as well as clean and jerk silver with 101kg.

The Romanian won a third medal with snatch bronze thanks to a lift of 79kg.

The Vietnam lifter dominated all three podiums ©IWF
The Vietnam lifter dominated all three podiums ©IWF

Turkey's Mustafa Erdogan did enough for the overall bronze on 177kg, while also claiming the snatch silver with 82kg.

Joe Vargos Santos of Ecuador won clean and jerk bronze with a best lift of 98kg. 

Four categories will be held tomorrow in the American entertainment capital.

The men will compete at 55kg and 61kg with the women in action at 40kg and 45kg.

Competition runs until March 15.