The Asian Weightlifting Championships 2026 in Gandhinagar witnessed history as North Korea’s Song Kuk Hyang broke the world record, while India’s Harjinder Kaur secured a bronze medal in the snatch event.
Asian Weightlifting Championships 2026
The Asian Weightlifting Championships 2026 in Gandhinagar witnessed a historic day on Friday as North Korean weightlifter Song Kuk Hyang delivered a sensational record-breaking performance in the women’s 69kg category.
Competing at the Mahatma Mandir Exhibition Hall, Song Kuk Hyang dominated the competition by winning gold medals in all three divisions — snatch, clean and jerk, and overall total. Her outstanding lifts not only secured victory but also created new records at the international level.
The North Korean athlete successfully lifted 112kg in the snatch event before producing a stunning 151kg effort in clean and jerk. With a combined total of 263kg, she comfortably finished at the top of the standings.
Her 151kg clean and jerk lift established a new IWF World Record as well as a new Asian Record, making it one of the biggest highlights of the championship so far. The audience at the packed venue erupted in applause after the record-breaking lift, turning the event into a memorable moment for weightlifting fans.
Harjinder Kaur Wins Bronze for India
India also had reason to celebrate as Harjinder Kaur produced a commendable performance in front of the home crowd. The Indian lifter secured a bronze medal in the snatch category after successfully lifting 96kg. She finished behind Song Kuk Hyang of North Korea and Taiwan’s Chen Wen-Hui.
Harjinder later managed 121kg in clean and jerk, taking her overall total to 217kg. Despite her strong performance, she narrowly missed an overall podium finish and ended the competition in fourth place. Her effort received huge appreciation from Indian supporters and officials, who praised her fighting spirit against some of Asia’s strongest competitors.
Women’s 69kg Event Results – Asian Weightlifting Championships 2026
| Event | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
| Snatch | Song Kuk Hyang (North Korea) – 112kg | Chen Wen-Hui (Taiwan) – 104kg | Harjinder Kaur (India) – 96kg |
| Clean and Jerk | Song Kuk Hyang (North Korea) – 151kg | Chen Wen-Hui (Taiwan) – 135kg | Miyagoye Yui (Japan) – 125kg |
| Total | Song Kuk Hyang (North Korea) – 263kg | Chen Wen-Hui (Taiwan) – 239kg | Miyagoye Yui (Japan) – 219kg |
Federation Officials Praise Athletes
Officials from the Indian Weightlifting Federation congratulated all medal winners for their remarkable performances.
Federation CEO Ashwani Kumar stated that hosting the Asian Championships in India is providing an important international platform for the continent’s best weightlifting talent. He added that the tournament is also helping Indian athletes gain valuable exposure ahead of future global competitions.
The ongoing championship in Gandhinagar has already witnessed several high-quality performances and continues to attract major attention from sports enthusiasts across the country.
With world records being broken and Indian athletes delivering strong performances, the event has further highlighted Asia’s growing dominance in international weightlifting.
