Chinese weightlifter Zhao Jinhong electrified the Asian Weightlifting Championships in Jiangshan, Zhejiang Province, by shattering the women's 45kg snatch world record twice in one day. The reigning world champion opened with an 80kg lift, securing gold before ambitiously pushing to 88kg—breaking the DPRK’s Won Hyon Sim’s 87kg record—and finally sealing a historic 90kg lift. Zhao also claimed clean & jerk and overall gold medals, cementing her dominance in the category.
— Record-Breaking Focus —
"My goal was the snatch record, and I’m thrilled I did it," said Zhao, who acknowledged fatigue hampered her final clean & jerk attempt. "I’ll keep refining my technique." Meanwhile, teammate Wang Weidong faced drama in the men’s 55kg event. A technical error in his first snatch left him trailing Vietnam’s Lai Gia Thanh. But Wang roared back in clean & jerk, lifting 142kg to snatch gold and edge Lai by 1kg overall. His final 146kg lift secured a 265kg total, thrilling the home crowd.
— Rising Stars Shine —
The event highlighted Asia’s weightlifting prowess ahead of major international competitions. Zhao’s record-setting performance and Wang’s resilience under pressure underscore China’s deepening talent pool, while rivals like Vietnam signal the region’s competitive growth. Analysts predict these athletes will be ones to watch in upcoming global tournaments.
