North Korean weightlifter sets three world records for Asian Games gold

Nagoya witnessed North Korean weightlifter Ri Song Gum etch her name in the annals of Asian Games history on Wednesday, as she clinched three world records in the women's 49kg class and secured the country's first gold medal. Standing at just 140cm (4ft 7ins), Song Gum, who is 28 years old, joined an elite group of merely four weightlifters to achieve this remarkable feat.

At the medal ceremony, the emotional Song Gum shed tears of joy as her nation's anthem played, alongside silver medallist Mirabai Chanu from India and bronze medallist Diana Tri Wijayana from Indonesia. The atmosphere was electric at the Nagoya Trade and Industry Centre hall, amplified by a large number of Japanese North Korean fans waving flags.

Ri Song Gum achieved her records by lifting 94kg in the snatch, surpassing the previous world record by one kilogramme. She then shattered the clean and jerk record twice, throwing 116kg and then 121kg, breaking the world mark by 7kg overall. Her total lift of 215kg also obliterated the world standard by 7kg.

Song Gum explained that winning this gold medal was for her home country, which had high expectations for her. She aimed to lift her nation up on her small shoulders. Prior to her Olympic debut, Song Gum had never competed in the Olympics. North Korea had boycotted the Tokyo Games in 2021 due to COVID-19 concerns, and they failed to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics. Consequently, the 49kg class will not feature at the next Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

Although Song Gum has never competed at the Olympics, she expressed her willingness to move up to the 53kg category to chase Olympic glory. India's Mirabai Chanu, the silver medallist at the Tokyo Olympics, finally won an Asian Games medal at her third attempt. Meanwhile, Indonesia's Diana Tri Wijayana took bronze in the same event.