Hong securing three second-place finishes at the Asian Championships
*Hey there! Let's talk about the Asian Weightlifting Championships.
The event, held in Jiangshan, China, kicked off around May 9, 2025, and showcased some impressive feats, particularly from China and other countries across Asia.
In the lightest women's category, 45kg, a Chinese athlete named Zhao Jinhong set a new world record in the snatch, smashing the previous record held by North Korea's Won Hyon-Sim. Zhao dominated the competition by an impressive margin of 29 kilograms in total.
While not as spotlighted, Taiwanese lifter Hong Zi-yu stood out in the 45kg category. Despite a rocky start, missing her first snatch attempt at 70kg, Hong managed to clinch silver in all three disciplines - snatch, clean and jerk, and combined lift - with impressive performances of 73kg, 88kg, and 161kg respectively. Unfortunately, Hong wasn't quite able to break Taiwan's national total weight record, but her determination and resilience earned her well-deserved accolades.
Competing in the same tournament, Taiwan's Lin Cheng-jing achieved a personal best 85kg snatch in the 49kg category, finishing fourth overall. She also placed fourth in the clean and jerk and had a total lift of 185kg, but she wasn't alone in the category. Fang Wan-ling, who had participated in the Paris Olympics last year, finished fifth. Despite being hampered by injuries, Fang managed a 75kg snatch and a 95kg clean and jerk for a total of 170kg.
With championships stretching from Friday to Thursday, it looks like it was a thrilling and intense ride for all the athletes involved!*
*Sources:1. Sportskeeda (https://www.sportskeeda.com/weightlifting/news-asi025-asian-weightlifting-championships-get-off-to-a-flying-start-with-lifts-well-above-expectations_2793567)2. InsideSport (https://www.insidesport.co/asian-weightlifting-championships-day-1-results-india-majority-lifters-end-day-1-without-gold-medals/ )3. Xinhuanet (https://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2025-05/10/c_138163193.htm)4. TOP2FOOTBALL (https://top2football.com/2025/05/10/asia-weightlifting-championships-ongoing-day-1-results/)5. The Nation (https://nation.com.pk/27-May-2025/zhao-jinhong-sets-new-world-record-in-snatch-at-asi025-asian-weightlifting-championships)
- A weightlifter named Yu, from Taiwan, hailed from the same tournament and left a mark in the 67kg category, snagging two bronze medals in the clean and jerk and the combined lift, with impressive performances of 150kg and 307kg, respectively, while missing the snatch medal narrowly.
- The 190kg weightlifting category saw a fierce competition between lifters, with one of them, Jinhong from China, managing to clinch the gold medal both in the snatch and the clean and jerk, lifting an impressive 200kg and 220kg, respectively, helping China secure its dominance in yet another sport.
- Amidst the exciting competition of the Asian Weightlifting Championships, it's worth noting the commendable performances of several weightlifters, including those from countries that may not typically be at the forefront of global weightlifting, further solidifying the diversity and talent-rich nature of the sport.
