North Korean lifters lift mood with four golds and six world marks

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.