February 24, 2026Feb 24, 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

Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un elected as General Secretary of WPK

Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un elected as General Secretary of WPK

A decision of the Ninth Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea "On Election of the General Secretary of the Workers' Party of

February 23, 2026

A decision of the Ninth Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea "On Election of the General Secretary of the Workers' Party of

Heads of state and government of AU gather

Heads of state and government of AU gather

The 39th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union was held at the headquarters of

February 23, 2026

The 39th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union was held at the headquarters of

Students meet with war veteran

Students meet with war veteran

Graduating class students of senior middle schools in North Phyongan Province met with a war veteran at the provincial art

February 23, 2026

Graduating class students of senior middle schools in North Phyongan Province met with a war veteran at the provincial art

WPK Rules revised at Ninth WPK Congress

WPK Rules revised at Ninth WPK Congress

A decision of the Ninth Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea "On the Revision of the Rules of the Workers' Party of Korea" was

February 23, 2026

A decision of the Ninth Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea "On the Revision of the Rules of the Workers' Party of Korea" was

Press release of Ninth WPK Congress

Press release of Ninth WPK Congress

Members and alternate members of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea elected at the Ninth WPK Congress are as

February 23, 2026

Members and alternate members of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea elected at the Ninth WPK Congress are as

Chairman Kim Jong Il 's birth anniversary celebrated abroad

Chairman Kim Jong Il 's birth anniversary celebrated abroad

The 84th birth anniversary of Chairman Kim Jong Il was celebrated in Laos, Myanmar, Pakistan, Switzerland, France, Serbia and

February 22, 2026

The 84th birth anniversary of Chairman Kim Jong Il was celebrated in Laos, Myanmar, Pakistan, Switzerland, France, Serbia and

Strenuous worldwide efforts for space development

Strenuous worldwide efforts for space development

The international community is making proactive efforts for space development. At the recent sci-tech panel meeting of the UN

February 22, 2026

The international community is making proactive efforts for space development. At the recent sci-tech panel meeting of the UN

For protection and development of mother language

For protection and development of mother language

There are many countries and nations in the world and so are corresponding languages. On February 21 1952 inhabitants of the then

February 22, 2026

There are many countries and nations in the world and so are corresponding languages. On February 21 1952 inhabitants of the then

Chinese FM warns Japan against repeating past mistake

Chinese FM warns Japan against repeating past mistake

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi warned Japan against its moves to revive militarism in Munich, Germany, on February 14. Stressing

February 21, 2026

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi warned Japan against its moves to revive militarism in Munich, Germany, on February 14. Stressing

Chinese cadres get together for lunar New Year greeting

Chinese cadres get together for lunar New Year greeting

The Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council of China held a meeting for lunar New Year greeting in

February 20, 2026

The Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council of China held a meeting for lunar New Year greeting in

Ninth Congress of WPK opens with splendour

Ninth Congress of WPK opens with splendour

All the Party members and other people in the DPRK, absolutely convinced that the Korean revolution would always emerge victorious

February 20, 2026

All the Party members and other people in the DPRK, absolutely convinced that the Korean revolution would always emerge victorious

Norwegian prime minister denounces US’ diplomatic and trade policy

Norwegian prime minister denounces US’ diplomatic and trade policy

The Norwegian prime minister criticized the US’ diplomatic and trade policy in his speech at the parliament on February 12.Europe’

February 20, 2026

The Norwegian prime minister criticized the US’ diplomatic and trade policy in his speech at the parliament on February 12.Europe’

Congratulatory group of GAKC arrives in Pyongyang

Congratulatory group of GAKC arrives in Pyongyang

A congratulatory group of the General Association of Koreans in China led by Chairwoman Choe Un Bok arrived in Pyongyang on

February 20, 2026

A congratulatory group of the General Association of Koreans in China led by Chairwoman Choe Un Bok arrived in Pyongyang on

More Articles