North Korean athlete surprised to defeat world champion, break 8 records at ASIAD 19

North Korean athletes continue to surprise the audience watching the 19th Asian Games. This time, the name mentioned is Kim Il-gyong in weightlifting, women's 59kg category. The athlete born in 2000 won the gold medal with a total lift of 246kg, of which the snatch was 111kg and the clean and jerk was 135kg.

Notably, Kim Il-gyong broke 8 records with the above achievements, including: Asian record, Asian youth record, world record in clean and jerk; Asian youth record, world record in clean and jerk; Asian youth record, world record in total lift.

Kim Il-gyong broke 8 records in the women's 59kg weightlifting category at the 19th ASIAD. (Photo: Reuters)

Kim Il-gyong, born in 2003, is a completely new name in the international arena. North Korean weightlifters have been absent from major tournaments since 2019 due to doping issues.

Kim Il-gyong's gold medal win was a complete surprise, as the event featured some of the world's best athletes. Luo Shifang (China) is the reigning world champion in this weight class. Meanwhile, Kuo Hsing Chun is the reigning ASIAD champion in the 58kg category, and also holds the world and Asian records.

In the women's 59kg weightlifting category, two Vietnamese athletes competed, Quàng Thị Tâm and Hoàng Thị Duyên. Both of these athletes did not have good results. Quàng Thị Tâm only achieved a total lift of 204kg, while Hoàng Thị Duyên failed in all three snatches and was eliminated early.

As of 5 p.m. on October 2, North Korea is the sports delegation with the most gold medals in weightlifting. Kim Il-gyong brought home the third gold medal, helping North Korea temporarily surpass host China with 2 gold medals.

North Korean athletes made a strong impression at this Asian Games. Previously, in the women's 49kg category, Ri Song-gum broke the world record, the Asian record, the ASIAD record in the clean and jerk (124kg), and broke the world record, the Asian record, the ASIAD record in the total lift (216kg).

In the men's 55kg category, Kang Hyong-yong broke the world record, Asian record, and ASIAD record in the snatch, clean and jerk, and total. His achievements were 103kg, 130kg, and 233kg, respectively.

The North Korean delegation is currently ranked 9th in the overall medal table with 6 gold medals, 9 silver medals and 5 bronze medals. The Chinese delegation is in the lead with 142 gold medals, 76 silver medals and 39 bronze medals.

Van Hai

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