Heavy task: North Korea’s Kang Hyong-yong dominated the women’s 55kg category by establishing a hattrick of world records in snatch, clean and jerk, and combined. — Reuters
AFTER a nearly four-year hiatus from international competitions, North Korean weightlifters have made a triumphant return, pocketing four gold medals and setting six world records over the last three days at the Hangzhou Asiad.
Ri Song-gum, a gold medallist at the Jakarta Asian Games in the women’s 48kg category, showcased her prowess last Saturday in the women’s 49kg category. She lifted 92kg in the snatch and 124kg in the clean and jerk, tallying a total of 216kg, and setting a new world record.
Later that day, Song-gum’s compatriot Kang Hyong-yong dominated the women’s 55kg category by establishing a hattrick of world records in snatch, clean and jerk, and combined.
On Monday, Kim Il-gyong clinched gold in the women’s 59kg category, lifting 111kg in the snatch and 135kg in the clean and jerk for a total of 246kg. She also set a world record in the snatch, surpassing the previous mark by one kilo.
The team have intrigued the press and weightlifting enthusiasts, earning descriptions such as a “mysterious troop” and a “team full of secrets.”
Jang Song-nam, an official from North Korea Olympic Committee, attributed the team’s impressive performance to their rigorous daily training regimen.
“There is no secret to our success,” Song-nam remarked, noting that his team had missed several competitions over the last few years, including the delayed Tokyo Olympic Games.
“All weightlifters of the team trained hard for the Hangzhou Asiad,” he emphasised.
Reflecting on her journey, gold medallist Song-gum admitted that breaking world records was a formidable challenge, which made her victory all the more valuable.
“Four years without international competitions has been a long time for me,” she acknowledged, adding that she and her teammates have committed to daily rigorous training with the goal of rivalling China’s weightlifting team. — Xin Hua
