▲ North Korean weightlifter Ri Won-ju
North Korean weightlifter Ri Won-ju has claimed the top of the podium at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, powered by his overwhelming strength in the clean and jerk.
Competing in the men's 70kg weightlifting event held at the Nagoya International Center (Fukiage Hall) in Japan on the 26th, Ri lifted 151kg in the snatch and 198kg in the clean and jerk, totaling 349kg to secure the gold medal.
This is the 5th gold medal harvested by the North Korean delegation at this tournament, with all 5 coming from weightlifting.
After failing his first attempt at 146kg in the snatch, Ri successfully lifted 146kg in his second attempt and 151kg in his third, finishing the snatch in second place, 3kg behind Japan's Masanori Miyamoto (154kg).
However, he turned the tables in an instant during his strongest event, the clean and jerk.
After effortlessly lifting 187kg in his first attempt to secure the gold medal, Ri hoisted 192kg in his second attempt and brilliantly lifted 198kg in his third, shaking off the pursuit of his competitors.
The silver medal went to Miyamoto, who recorded a total of 342kg (154kg snatch, 188kg clean and jerk), while Albert Ian Delos Santos of the Philippines won the bronze with a total of 324kg (141kg snatch, 183kg clean and jerk).
No South Korean athletes competed in this weight class.
(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
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