NAGOYA, Japan, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) --DPR Korea weightlifters made a dominant start to their Asian Games campaign on Tuesday, winning both women's gold medals on offer as three-time champion Ri Song Gum broke three world records.
Ri, the 28-year-old competing in the women's 49kg, lifted 94kg in the snatch, 121kg in the clean and jerk for a total of 215kg - all new world records. The gold was the DPRK's first of the Games.
"Words cannot describe how happy I am," Ri told Xinhua after the medal ceremony. It was her third consecutive Asian Games title, following wins in Jakarta and Hangzhou.
Asked for the secret to her success, Ri credited it to the support of her people.
"It's not that I'm that great myself. I stand here because of the trust and expectations of our people," she said.
The women's 49kg is not an Olympic weight category for Los Angeles 2028. When asked if she would consider moving up a class to compete at the Olympics, Ri smiled at her coach and replied: "Yes!"
India's Mirabai Chanu took silver with 198kg, while Indonesia's Luluk Wijayana claimed bronze with 191kg.
In the later session, Kang Hyon Gyong claimed the DPRK's second gold of the day in the women's 53kg. The 27-year-old lifted a total of 223kg, breaking five Asian Games records along the way.
"Compared to previous Games, the level of the new generation has improved dramatically - even I have to be amazed," Kang said.
"I won't be complacent with today's result. I'll keep working harder. I didn't break the world record today, but next time I'll go all out to set a new one," she added.
China's Zhao Jinlan, competing in her first major international meet, took silver with 218kg.
"I was a bit nervous, didn't dare to go all out at first," the 22-year-old said of her performance. "But on my last lift, I found the courage and pushed through."
Thailand's Surodchana Khambao was third with 214kg. ■
