Sawt Falasteen - China's Chen and Li hit back at North Koreans in Asiad weightlifting

Tokyo Olympics gold medallist and multiple world champion Chen Lijun cruised to victory in the men's 67kg.

Chen lifted a combined 300kg to beat North Korea's Ri Won Ju, who took silver 9kg adrift, with South Korea's Lee Sang-yeon a further 4kg behind in bronze.

Triple world champion Li Fabin earlier added the Asian Games title to his extensive trophy cabinet as he secured China's first gold of the weightlifting competition in the men's 61kg.

North Korea's lifters had not been seen in international competition for four years before Saturday but they returned to break five world records on their way to winning both women's golds on offer at 49kg and 55kg.

The feats stunned the Chinese lifters and their vociferous home support at the Xiaoshan Sports Centre Gymnasium in a sport they expected to dominate in Hangzhou.

"Yesterday they shocked us, to be honest," Li said.

"Today they performed not far from my prediction," added the Tokyo Olympic champion.

"They have put great pressure on us. I will have to do better in future but you can be sure I will never throw in the towel."

Li, who was not at his best, showed his class and experience to hold off a two-pronged North Korea challenge and his total of 310kg gave him a 3kg cushion over Pak Myong Jin, who took silver.

"I feel joyful but I have misgivings," said Li, who won despite failing with his final two lifts at 171kg in the clean and jerk after a 143kg snatch.

"My performance in snatch was OK. But in clean and jerk, I felt weak on the second and third attempts.

"This is the top level. One small error can cost you."

The second North Korean, Kim Chung Guk, pipped John Ceniza for bronze on 298kg with his final clean and jerk at 171kg after the Filipino lifter failed at the same weight.

"So close, so close. Now I must work even harder," Ceniza said.

"I'm very close (to a medal). Just keep working hard. My next target is the Olympics."

North Korean weightlifters had not taken part in international competition since 2019 because the country's borders were sealed during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The country did not take part in the Tokyo Olympics of 2021, citing the pandemic, and its lifters were then barred from the 2022 Beijing Winter Games for skipping Tokyo.

A.AbuSaada--SF-PST