The Kigwancha Sports Club in the DPRK enjoys great popularity among local people as well as sports enthusiasts.
Founded in January 1956, the club has produced numerous sports stars.
“It has established a reputation as one of the three leading clubs in the world of Korean sports since its very founding,” said Ro Chol Hyok, manager of the club, “which is inseparable from the achievements of sports personalities trained at the club.”
During the initial period of its development, the club’s volleyball players and athletes were continuously successful at the four-country friendship tournaments between 1957 and 1959. Especially, volleyball player Kim U Hyon and athletes Han Jang Duk and Kim Sol Gi completely stole the show.
The 1966 World Cup Finals in the UK was vividly etched in the memory of the Korean people.
The DPRK team advanced to the quarter-finals by defeating the Italians who were recognized as one of the strongest in the world and an odds-on favourite of the tournament.
Among the creators of the football miracle of Chollima Korea in the 1960s were Kim Pong Hwan, Ri Chan Myong and Yang Song Guk, footballers of the Kigwancha Sports Club.
Won Chol Ju, director of the training department, proudly said that People’s Athlete An Se Uk, who greatly contributed to the team’s victories in over 60 international football competitions for over 10 years since the late 1960s, was a seed player of the club.
The club was also very successful at international gymnastics tournaments.
Ri Chol Hon won a gold medal in the pommel horse event of the 9th Asian Games.
The International Gymnastic Federation, fascinated by his performance, named a move Ri executed for the first time at the 21st World Gymnastics Championships in 1981 the “Ri Chol Hon movement”.
Besides, the club trained such sports stars as Kim Ok Son who made a sudden rise in the Asian track-and-field athletics, Kim Chol who triumphed in a world wrestling all-star tournament and Paek Yong Nam who cut a conspicuous figure with powerful blows and quick moves at over 10 international boxing competitions.
Also recorded in the history of the club are famous weightlifters who were called “Hercules”.
Kim Myong Nam won a lot of medals at the 25th and 26th Olympic Games and several world weightlifting championships and renewed the world and Asian records for five times respectively.
Two-time Olympic gold winner and world champion Rim Jong Sim and Rim Un Sim who dominated in the world junior weightlifting were also trained at the club. They are very well known as the “Herculean sisters” to the local people.
The club’s players have so far collected over 1 100 medals including more than 410 golds at international events.
More From Pyongyang Times
Proud entities visually showing the rapid development of the socialist countryside flourishing day by day are being built one
December 11, 2025
Proud entities visually showing the rapid development of the socialist countryside flourishing day by day are being built one
There was the second-day sitting of the 13th Plenary Meeting of the Eighth Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea on
December 11, 2025
There was the second-day sitting of the 13th Plenary Meeting of the Eighth Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea on
Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s
December 11, 2025
Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s
A spokesman for the Ministry of Defense of China urged Japan to fulfil its obligation as a defeated nation at a press conference
December 11, 2025
A spokesman for the Ministry of Defense of China urged Japan to fulfil its obligation as a defeated nation at a press conference
Choe Son Hui, minister of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, No Kwang Chol, minister of National
December 11, 2025
Choe Son Hui, minister of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, No Kwang Chol, minister of National
The secretary office of the premier of the Cabinet of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea on December 10 informed the Korean
December 11, 2025
The secretary office of the premier of the Cabinet of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea on December 10 informed the Korean
Pak Jong Chon and Jo Chun Ryong, secretaries of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, Kim Jae Ryong, department
December 11, 2025
Pak Jong Chon and Jo Chun Ryong, secretaries of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, Kim Jae Ryong, department
Amid the growing joy of the macrobians leading a blessed life under the socialist system of the DPRK, Yonha-dong of Sinuiju City,
December 11, 2025
Amid the growing joy of the macrobians leading a blessed life under the socialist system of the DPRK, Yonha-dong of Sinuiju City,
The provincial building materials exhibition-2025 opened with due ceremony at the Sci-Tech Complex in Pyongyang on December 9.
December 11, 2025
The provincial building materials exhibition-2025 opened with due ceremony at the Sci-Tech Complex in Pyongyang on December 9.
A potato farina production factory was newly built and inaugurated in Jangjin County, South Hamgyong Province. The factory has a
December 11, 2025
A potato farina production factory was newly built and inaugurated in Jangjin County, South Hamgyong Province. The factory has a
Developing countries are paying close attention to education, regarding it as a crucial issue for achieving national prosperity.
December 10, 2025
Developing countries are paying close attention to education, regarding it as a crucial issue for achieving national prosperity.
The Hungarian minister of foreign affairs and trade opposed a plan of the European Union to ban the import of Russian energy throu
December 10, 2025
The Hungarian minister of foreign affairs and trade opposed a plan of the European Union to ban the import of Russian energy throu
Japan continues to contaminate the sea with successive discharge of nuclear waste water.On December 4 the Tokyo Electric Power Com
December 10, 2025
Japan continues to contaminate the sea with successive discharge of nuclear waste water.On December 4 the Tokyo Electric Power Com
Agricultural workers moved with pleasure into the modern houses newly built in farm villages of Jagang Province as part of the
December 10, 2025
Agricultural workers moved with pleasure into the modern houses newly built in farm villages of Jagang Province as part of the
The Samjigang Farm in Jaeryong County of South Hwanghae Province has overfulfilled its state grain production plan this year, too.
December 10, 2025
The Samjigang Farm in Jaeryong County of South Hwanghae Province has overfulfilled its state grain production plan this year, too.
The Kangso Sprayer Factory has produced a lot of backpack sprayers to send them to the socialist countryside this year. Among the
December 10, 2025
The Kangso Sprayer Factory has produced a lot of backpack sprayers to send them to the socialist countryside this year. Among the
A delegation of the Ministry of Disaster Management headed by Vice-Minister Ri Ki Chol left Pyongyang on December 8 by air to
December 10, 2025
A delegation of the Ministry of Disaster Management headed by Vice-Minister Ri Ki Chol left Pyongyang on December 8 by air to
The Enlarged Meeting of the 13th Plenary Meeting of the Eighth Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea was convened on
December 10, 2025
The Enlarged Meeting of the 13th Plenary Meeting of the Eighth Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea was convened on
Choe Son Hui, minister of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, sent a message of condolence to Sergei
December 09, 2025
Choe Son Hui, minister of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, sent a message of condolence to Sergei
Bearing in mind the noble soul and spirit of the revolutionary forerunners, youth and students successfully made a study tour of
December 09, 2025
Bearing in mind the noble soul and spirit of the revolutionary forerunners, youth and students successfully made a study tour of
More Articles