TOP THREE. Gold medalist Rim Unsim (C) of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), silver medalist Pei Xinyi (L) of China and bronze medalist Elreen Ann Ando of the Philippines attend the victory ceremony for the women's 64kg category of weightlifting in the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province on Monday (Oct. 2, 2023). North Korea female weightlifters have already won four golds. (Photo by Xinhua/Yang Lei)
HANGZHOU, Oct. 2 (Xinhua) – Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) weightlifter Kim Il Gyong won gold in the women's 59kg category of weightlifting competition at Hangzhou Asiad on Monday.
She lifted 111kg in the snatch and 135kg in the clean and jerk for a total of 246kg and set a world record in the snatch, one kilo better than the previous mark, held by Chinese Taipei's Olympic gold medalist Kuo Hsing-chun.
Rim Un Sim from DPRK, who took a gold medal in the women's 69kg at the Jakarta Asian Games five years ago, collected gold in the women's 64kg, lifted 111kg in the snatch and 140kg in the clean and jerk for a total of 251kg later on the day.
In an absorbing contest, Kim set a new world record in the snatch, raising 111kg above her head on her third lift, four kilograms more than her Chinese opponent Luo Shifang. The 20-year-old DPR Korean girl kept her momentum in the clean and jerk to lift 135kg, two kilograms more than Luo.
Luo won a silver with a total of 240kg.
A coach from team DPR Korea introduced that the country had missed many competitions during last four years, including the delayed Tokyo Olympic Games from which they withdrew ahead of the opening.
"All weightlifters of the team train hard for Hangzhou Asiad," said the coach.
"It is really a challenge that participating (in)the Asiad after world weightlifting championships within a month," said Luo, adding that she would keep on practicing and focus on the Paris Olympic Games next year.
Chinese Taipei's Kuo Hsing-chun, gold medalist in the women's 59kg category at the Tokyo Olympic Games, took the bronze with 227kg in the event.
In the women's 64kg, the 18-year-old Pei Xinyi of China clinched silver with a total of 234kg. Elreen Ann Ando from the Philippines came third with 222kg.
DPR Korean female weightlifters have pocketed four golds at the Hangzhou Asiad, belting six world records. (Xinhua)
