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(Asiad) N. Korean lifter lands gold in women's 58㎏

All News 18:19 September 22, 2014

By Kim You Jin

INCHEON, Sept. 22 (Yonhap) -- North Korean lifter Ri Jong-hwa seized gold in the women's 58-kilogram division at the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon on Monday.

The 23-year-old hoisted 102㎏ in the snatch and 134㎏ in the clean and jerk, altogether lifting 236㎏ to claim the top spot on the podium, defeating her Chinese opponent Wang Shuai during their neck-and-neck competition. Ri's is North Korea's third weightlifting gold medal in three days in Incheon.

Ri is not an unfamiliar face on the international stage, as she grabbed a silver at the Asian Weightlifting Championship as well as a gold at the Asian Cup and Interclub Senior Weightlifting Championship, both held last year.

Wang secured a silver medal with a total of 235㎏, while Rattikan Gulnoi of Thailand came in third with 252㎏.

Kim Su-ryon, another North Korean weightlifter who failed in her attempt to claim a medal and ended in fifth place the previous day, joined other delegates of the isolated country to root for her weightlifting compatriot. OCA President Sheikh Ahmad Al Fahad Al Sabah also attended the competition.

Some 150 athletes have arrived from North Korea to vie for medals in 14 sports at the 17th Asian Games. Although the country had ranked among the top 10 in medals in six Asiads since its first participation in 1974, it finished at 13th and 16th, respectively, at the 2010 and 2006 Games.

yjkim8826@yna.co.kr
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