Gold medalist He Renxiu (C) of China, silver medalist Ayanat Zhumagali (L) of Kazakhstan and bronze medalist Reihaneh Karimi of Iran pose during the awarding ceremony after the women's 77kg final of weightlifting at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 in Nagoya, Japan, Sept. 27, 2026. (Xinhua/Yu Yang)
NAGOYA, Japan, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Song Kuk Hyang of the DPR Korea smashed three world records en route to claiming the women's 69kg weightlifting title at the 20th Asian Games on Sunday, while China's He Renxiu took gold in the women's 77kg division.
Song set a new world mark in the snatch with 121kg, then broke records in the clean and jerk with 152kg and in the combined total with 273kg, finishing incredible 41 kilograms ahead of the silver medalist.
Chen Wen-huei from Chinese Taipei claimed silver with 232kg in total and Ingrid Grueso of Bahrain took bronze with a total of 229kg.
Being the youngest weightlifter in the category, 20-year-old Grueso, who was born in Colombia, said she was "super proud" of herself.
"This is the first competition of the year for me. I had two operations and I came here giving the best of myself," she said.
Later in the day in the women's 77kg, 22-year-old He lifted 118kg in the snatch with three successful attempts, trailing Kim Iseul of South Korea by eight kilograms. She then added 140kg in the clean and jerk for a winning total of 258kg.
Ayanat Zhumagali of Kazakhstan took silver with a total of 246kg, while Reihaneh Karimi from Iran claimed bronze at 243kg.
Making her debut at a major continental competition, He could barely contain her excitement. "This is my first time competing in an event of this calibre, and also the first time I've heard my national anthem played for me. I was overcome with emotion...I never thought I would shed tears," she said.
Speaking of her failed second clean and jerk attempt at 140kg, she said she regularly trains at that weight and quickly regained her composure. "I plan to go after the Asian and world records in this weight class in the future."
The weight class was only established in August this year, with just five athletes competing in the Asian Games.
The men's 85kg and 95kg divisions will take place on Monday. ■
He Renxiu of China celebrates during the women's 77kg final of weightlifting at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 in Nagoya, Japan, Sept. 27, 2026. (Xinhua/Yu Yang)
Ayanat Zhumagali of Kazakhstan competes during the women's 77kg final of weightlifting at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 in Nagoya, Japan, Sept. 27, 2026. (Xinhua/Yu Yang)
Gold medalist He Renxiu of China poses during the awarding ceremony after the women's 77kg final of weightlifting at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 in Nagoya, Japan, Sept. 27, 2026. (Xinhua/Yu Yang)
Reihaneh Karimi of Iran reacts after the women's 77kg final of weightlifting at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 in Nagoya, Japan, Sept. 27, 2026. (Xinhua/Yu Yang)
Reihaneh Karimi of Iran competes during the women's 77kg final of weightlifting at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 in Nagoya, Japan, Sept. 27, 2026. (Xinhua/Yu Yang)
He Renxiu of China competes during the women's 77kg final of weightlifting at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 in Nagoya, Japan, Sept. 27, 2026. (Xinhua/Yu Yang)
He Renxiu of China competes during the women's 77kg final of weightlifting at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 in Nagoya, Japan, Sept. 27, 2026. (Xinhua/Yu Yang)
