Mirabai Chanu wins Asian Games silver as Ri breaks weightlifting record

Mirabai Chanu wins Asian Games silver as Ri breaks weightlifting recordRi Song-gum wins North Korea’s first gold at the games while Chanu finally clinches elusive Asian Games medal in Japan.North Korean weightlifter Ri Song Gum has broken three world records en route to winning gold in the women’s 49kg (108lbs) competition, which saw India’s Mirabai Chanu win an elusive Asian Games medal by finishing second.Ri gave North Korea its first gold of the games in Nagoya, Japan, on Wednesday, joining an elite club of four weightlifters who have won three Asian Games gold medals.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4Afghan cyclist who escaped Taliban wins Asian Games silver medallist 2 of 4Embattled Gianni Infantino says he is open to talks over FIFA reformlist 3 of 4Asian Games: Opening ceremony offers respite amid mounting complaintslist 4 of 4Who is Yu Zidi, China’s 13-year-old swimming sensation?end of listThe 28-year-old hauled 94kg above her head in the opening snatch discipline – the first official segment of the competition where athletes lift a barbell from the floor to an overhead position in a single motion. The lift was 1kg heavier than the previous world record of 93kg.Ri followed it up by breaking the world record twice in the 115kg clean and jerk – a two-part movement where a barbell is lifted from the floor to the shoulders and then pushed overhead. The 4ft-7in (139.7cm) weightlifter hoisted 116kg and 121kg above her head.Ri’s total lift of 215kg obliterated the old world record total by 7kg.She is the fourth lifter, and first woman, to win three Asian Games weightlifting golds and joined Iran’s Mohammad Nassiri (1966-74), South Korea’s Kim Tae-hyun (1990-98) and Iran’s Behdad Salimi (2010-18), who all won three gold medals. No athlete has won four weightlifting gold medals.Ri joined an elite club of just four weightlifters who have won three Asian Games gold medals [Dita Alangkara/AP]In the same category, India’s Chanu finally won an Asian Games medal at the third time of asking. She won a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.