March 26, 2026Mar 26, 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

Scheme to ease arms export ban opposed in Japan

Scheme to ease arms export ban opposed in Japan

Objections to the authorities' scheme to relax the ban on arms export are being voiced in Japan. An opinion poll was recently

March 24, 2026

Objections to the authorities' scheme to relax the ban on arms export are being voiced in Japan. An opinion poll was recently

Mt Paektu area abounds in tourism resources

Mt Paektu area abounds in tourism resources

The Mt Paektu area, which was registered as a global geopark in April 2025, is rich in natural resources for tourism including

March 24, 2026

The Mt Paektu area, which was registered as a global geopark in April 2025, is rich in natural resources for tourism including

Belarus warns NATO and Ukraine against slighting it

Belarus warns NATO and Ukraine against slighting it

Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko warned NATO and Ukraine against covetously looking over his country at a recent press

March 23, 2026

Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko warned NATO and Ukraine against covetously looking over his country at a recent press

Winter Paralympics close

Winter Paralympics close

The 25th Winter Paralympics which opened on March 6 in Italy was closed on March 15. The president of the International Paralympic

March 23, 2026

The 25th Winter Paralympics which opened on March 6 in Italy was closed on March 15. The president of the International Paralympic

Forests and economy

Forests and economy

March 21 is International Day of Forests. The UN General Assembly held in 2012 designated March 21 as International Day of Forests

March 22, 2026

March 21 is International Day of Forests. The UN General Assembly held in 2012 designated March 21 as International Day of Forests

Commemorative events held in Russia

Commemorative events held in Russia

Such commemorative events as seminar, book exhibition and film show were held at the Khabarovsk Territorial Branch of the United

March 22, 2026

Such commemorative events as seminar, book exhibition and film show were held at the Khabarovsk Territorial Branch of the United

Serious water crisis on ‘planet of water’

Serious water crisis on ‘planet of water’

May 22 is World Water Day.According to the decision made at the 47th session of the UN General Assembly in 1992, the day has been

March 22, 2026

May 22 is World Water Day.According to the decision made at the 47th session of the UN General Assembly in 1992, the day has been

Young people volunteer for labour-consuming sectors

Young people volunteer for labour-consuming sectors

Young people in Kangwon and Ryanggang provinces have volunteered for difficult and labour-consuming sectors of socialist

March 22, 2026

Young people in Kangwon and Ryanggang provinces have volunteered for difficult and labour-consuming sectors of socialist

Human rights situation seen through contempt for women

Human rights situation seen through contempt for women

The strike and demonstration staged by women workers in Chicago, the US, on March 8 117 years ago were an eruption of their wrath

March 21, 2026

The strike and demonstration staged by women workers in Chicago, the US, on March 8 117 years ago were an eruption of their wrath

Modern agriculture widely encouraged

Modern agriculture widely encouraged

In recent years a dramatic change has taken place in the agricultural production in the country. The Workers’ Party of Korea has

March 20, 2026

In recent years a dramatic change has taken place in the agricultural production in the country. The Workers’ Party of Korea has

South Africa criticizes US ambassador for reckless remarks

South Africa criticizes US ambassador for reckless remarks

The South African Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation called the US ambassador to the country on March 11 to

March 20, 2026

The South African Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation called the US ambassador to the country on March 11 to

More Articles