April 16, 2026Apr 16, 2026
KCNA Pyongyang Times

Female weightlifting stars nominated as top 10 players of DPRK for 2024

Date: 18/03/2025 | Source: Pyongyang Times | Read original version at source

Player aspiring after top weightlifter

Kim Il Gyong is a woman weightlifter of the April 25 Combat Sports Team who was selected as one of the top ten best players of the DPRK in 2024 after 2022 and 2023.

Since she started her career as a weightlifter, she has immersed herself in training by displaying her natural aptitude and amazing perseverance and fortitude.

She participated in the Asian Junior and Youth Weightlifting Championships to register good results. Later, she fully displayed her capability in domestic and international games.

In the women's 59kg weightlifting of the 19th Asian Games in 2023, in particular, she established a new world record in snatch and new records of the games in jerk and total, thereby winning three gold medals.

As a result, she joined the ranks of the world record holders in the domestic women's weightlifting circles.

Her eyes were fixed on the world games beyond Asia.

Though she won four gold and two silver medals at the women's 59kg category in the 2024 Asian Weightlifting Championships and 2024 IWF World Cup last year, she could not rest on her laurels. Her aim was not the mere first place, but the record-breaking top place.

She made painstaking efforts with great ambition and finally felt the joy of success.

She snatched three gold medals and the best player award at the 2024 IWF World Championships by snatching 108kg, jerking 141kg (new world record) and lifting 249kg in total (new world record).

"Victory for medal cannot be called a victory. The genuine victory is the win achieved by setting a new record," said Kim, winner of the Kim Il Sung Children Honour Prize and Merited Athlete.

She now holds all the world records of the women's 59kg snatch, jerk and total.

Woman of ability in weightlifting circles

Known as one of the aces in the women's weightlifting circles, Ri Song Gum is the winner of the Kim Il Sung Youth Honour Prize and Merited Athlete.

She was one of the top ten players of the DPRK in succession from 2021 to 2024.

Starting to learn weightlifting at a county juvenile sports school (at that time), she laid stepping stones to success with painstaking efforts.

With her special ability in jerk, she always won victory in different domestic and international games in succession by relying on it as a weapon, recording a new record.

She snatched three gold medals at the women's 44kg category of the 2014 Asian Junior and Youth Weightlifting Championships and established a new world record in jerk.

She won the women's weightlifting event of the 19th Asian Games in 2023 and renewed her world record in the jerk and total events at the 49kg category in the 2024 Asian Weightlifting Championships and the 2024 IWF World Cup.

More From Pyongyang Times

President Kim Il Sung ’s birth anniversary celebrated by workers

President Kim Il Sung ’s birth anniversary celebrated by workers

Workers and members of the General Federation of Trade Unions of Korea met at the Central Hall of Workers on April 13 in celebrati

April 15, 2026

Workers and members of the General Federation of Trade Unions of Korea met at the Central Hall of Workers on April 13 in celebrati

Russian delegation arrives in DPRK

Russian delegation arrives in DPRK

A delegation of Russia’s independent federation of trade unions headed by Chairman Sergei Chernogayev arrived in Pyongyang on

April 15, 2026

A delegation of Russia’s independent federation of trade unions headed by Chairman Sergei Chernogayev arrived in Pyongyang on

Destroyer Choe Hyon conducts test-fire of weapon systems

Destroyer Choe Hyon conducts test-fire of weapon systems

A test-fire of strategic cruise missiles and anti-warship missiles was conducted again within the operational efficiency test

April 14, 2026

A test-fire of strategic cruise missiles and anti-warship missiles was conducted again within the operational efficiency test

DPRK team advances to semi-finals of 2026 AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup

DPRK team advances to semi-finals of 2026 AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup

The quarterfinal between the DPRK and Australian teams for the 2026 AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup took place in Thailand on April 12

April 14, 2026

The quarterfinal between the DPRK and Australian teams for the 2026 AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup took place in Thailand on April 12

Brazilian president censures US

Brazilian president censures US

The Brazilian president criticized the US for threatening the world at an event held on April 10. Saying that the US ruler is

April 14, 2026

The Brazilian president criticized the US for threatening the world at an event held on April 10. Saying that the US ruler is

Saeppyol Street overflows with gratitude

Saeppyol Street overflows with gratitude

House-moving is going on in Saeppyol Street of Pyongyang. The street was built with much care by the state to hand down to

April 14, 2026

House-moving is going on in Saeppyol Street of Pyongyang. The street was built with much care by the state to hand down to

Enlarged meeting of National Sports Guidance Committee held

Enlarged meeting of National Sports Guidance Committee held

The 79th enlarged meeting of the National Sports Guidance Committee took place on April 10. The meeting was presided over by Ri Il

April 13, 2026

The 79th enlarged meeting of the National Sports Guidance Committee took place on April 10. The meeting was presided over by Ri Il

Russian FM denounces hostile acts by Japan, Ukraine

Russian FM denounces hostile acts by Japan, Ukraine

Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, issued a commentary on April 6 to censure Japan and

April 13, 2026

Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, issued a commentary on April 6 to censure Japan and

China decries Japan’s moves toward ‘neo-militarism’

China decries Japan’s moves toward ‘neo-militarism’

A spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China at a press conference on April 7 denounced Japan's reckless moves toward

April 13, 2026

A spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China at a press conference on April 7 denounced Japan's reckless moves toward

Sweet and biscuit sculpture show held

Sweet and biscuit sculpture show held

The Sixth Sweet and Biscuit Sculpture Exhibition took place at the Chongnyu Restaurant in Pyongyang from April 8 to 10 on the

April 13, 2026

The Sixth Sweet and Biscuit Sculpture Exhibition took place at the Chongnyu Restaurant in Pyongyang from April 8 to 10 on the

Credentials of DPRK ambassador to Belarus accepted

Credentials of DPRK ambassador to Belarus accepted

Ji Kyong Su, ambassador of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to Belarus, presented his credentials to the President of the

April 13, 2026

Ji Kyong Su, ambassador of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to Belarus, presented his credentials to the President of the

Demos against US and Israeli war moves staged in Germany

Demos against US and Israeli war moves staged in Germany

Demonstrations recently took place simultaneously in different parts of Germany in protest against the war moves by the US and

April 12, 2026

Demonstrations recently took place simultaneously in different parts of Germany in protest against the war moves by the US and

More Articles