(2nd LD) (Asiad) N. Korean weightlifter Kim Un-guk wins gold in record-breaking style

(ATTN: UPDATES with details in para 7)
By Kim You Jin

INCHEON, Sept. 21 (Yonhap) -- North Korean weightlifter Kim Un-guk broke two world records on his way to victory in the men's 62-kilogram event at the Asian Games on Sunday.

Kim lifted a total of 332㎏ to break his own previous world record by 5㎏, giving North Korea its second gold at the Asiad.

Earlier in the snatch, Kim lifted 154㎏ in his third snatch attempt to break the previous mark by 1㎏. Shi Zhiyong of China had held the record since 2002.

Kim had set the previous world record in the total weight in winning the 2012 Olympic gold in London.

"Breaking the world record is something all athletes wish for," the 25-year-old said during an interview. "I tried to set a better score than the one from the London Olympics, and I succeeded (this time)."

"North Korea's national flag flutters in my heart, and the only ones who can wear this flag on them are sports players," Kim added, gently laying his hand on his chest where a design of the communist country's flag is sewn onto the uniform.

Wrapped up in a large North Korean flag, the world champion wiped tears as he stood listening to his home country's national anthem while standing at the top of the podium during the victory ceremony.

Spectators from both Koreas were once again present on the benches to cheer for the crowd-pleaser, who in turn threw his fist into the air after one of his stunning lifts.

Kim Yong-hun, the usually reticent North Korean minister of physical culture and sports, was again seen sitting among the audience to root for the national sports hero, a day after his previous visit to watch a separate golden victory by North Korean lifter Om Yun-chol.

A day earlier, in the men's 56㎏, Om lifted 170㎏ in the clean and jerk to break his own world record and captured the gold medal.

Two world records also came down in the women's weightlifting earlier Sunday. In the women's 53㎏ class, Hsu Shu Ching of Chinese Taipei won the gold with a world record total of 233㎏. In the clean and jerk, Kazakhstan's Zulfiya Chinshanlo set a world record with 132㎏.

yjkim8826@yna.co.kr
(END)