Mighty North Koreans smash weightlifting world records after four-year absence of competitions

North Korea's Ri Song Gum competes in the women's 55kg Group A weightlifting final at 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023. - AP

HANGZHOU (AFP): North Korean weightlifters shattered a slew of world records at the Asian Games on Saturday on their return to international competition after four years, surprising one Chinese rival whose mark was obliterated by their exploits.

Ri Song Gum broke two world records in the women's 49kg, the first weightlifting event of the Hangzhou Games, having not competed outside North Korea since 2019 because of the pandemic.