March 19, 2026Mar 19, 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

SPA of DPRK to be convened

SPA of DPRK to be convened

The First Session of the 15th Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK will be convened in Pyongyang on March 22 2026. The SPA

March 17, 2026

The First Session of the 15th Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK will be convened in Pyongyang on March 22 2026. The SPA

Notice about convocation of DPRK SPA

Notice about convocation of DPRK SPA

The First Session of the 15th Supreme People’s Assembly of the DPRK will be convened in Pyongyang on March 22 2026. The session

March 17, 2026

The First Session of the 15th Supreme People’s Assembly of the DPRK will be convened in Pyongyang on March 22 2026. The session

Tree-planting Day observed in DPRK

Tree-planting Day observed in DPRK

Tree planting was conducted across the country on the occasion of Tree-planting Day. Officials of the State Planning Commission,

March 16, 2026

Tree planting was conducted across the country on the occasion of Tree-planting Day. Officials of the State Planning Commission,

Tree planting conducted by working people’s organizations

Tree planting conducted by working people’s organizations

Working people’s organizations planted trees on the occasion of Tree-planting Day.Officials of the central committee of the youth

March 16, 2026

Working people’s organizations planted trees on the occasion of Tree-planting Day.Officials of the central committee of the youth

Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un sends birthday spread to centenarian

Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un sends birthday spread to centenarian

The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un sent a birthday spread to Kim Su Il living in Neighbourhood Unit No. 9 in Ryongjam-ri, Tanchon

March 16, 2026

The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un sent a birthday spread to Kim Su Il living in Neighbourhood Unit No. 9 in Ryongjam-ri, Tanchon

House-moving begins in Saeppyol Street

House-moving begins in Saeppyol Street

People began to move into new houses on Pyongyang’s Saeppyol Street. The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un attended the inaugural

March 15, 2026

People began to move into new houses on Pyongyang’s Saeppyol Street. The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un attended the inaugural

Russian president sets tasks before anti-terrorism committee

Russian president sets tasks before anti-terrorism committee

Russian President Vladimir Putin made public a letter on March 10 to set forth the tasks facing the State Anti-terrorism

March 15, 2026

Russian President Vladimir Putin made public a letter on March 10 to set forth the tasks facing the State Anti-terrorism

Amateur bowling tournament held

Amateur bowling tournament held

The 2026 Spring Amateur Bowlers Tournament took place at the Pyongyang Gold Lane from March 10 to 12. In the tournament, divided

March 15, 2026

The 2026 Spring Amateur Bowlers Tournament took place at the Pyongyang Gold Lane from March 10 to 12. In the tournament, divided

Afforestation gets brisk

Afforestation gets brisk

The afforestation work is being carried on positively throughout the country. In order to turn all the mountains of the country

March 14, 2026

The afforestation work is being carried on positively throughout the country. In order to turn all the mountains of the country

Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un receives greetings from abroad

Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un receives greetings from abroad

The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un received congratulatory messages and letters from different countries on the occasion of his

March 14, 2026

The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un received congratulatory messages and letters from different countries on the occasion of his

Report of central election committee

Report of central election committee

The central election committee for the election of deputies to the 15th Supreme People's Assembly of the Democratic People's

March 14, 2026

The central election committee for the election of deputies to the 15th Supreme People's Assembly of the Democratic People's

Stamp exhibition opens

Stamp exhibition opens

A stamp exhibition opened with due ceremony at the Korean Stamp Exhibition House in Pyongyang on March 12 in commemoration of the

March 14, 2026

A stamp exhibition opened with due ceremony at the Korean Stamp Exhibition House in Pyongyang on March 12 in commemoration of the

More Articles