2025 World Weightlifting Championships: Hang Hyon-gyong takes 53kg women’s crown, while Wang Hao wins men’s 60kg world title

The win marks a second straight world title for Hang Hyon-gyong, who triumphed in the 55kg category a year ago in Manama. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s star lifter continued her impressive form at the 2025 World Weightlifting Championships in Forde, Norway, where she and China’s Wang Hao claimed the overall crowns on Friday (3 October).

Hang’s victory underlined North Korea’s growing dominance in women’s weightlifting. Just a day earlier, her teammate Ri Song-gum had swept all three golds in the 49kg category, setting the tone for another strong showing from the Korean contingent. Hang followed suit with a powerful and consistent display in the 53kg event, proving once again why she is one of the sport’s top names.

In the snatch, Hang lifted 93kg to earn the silver medal behind Romania’s Mihaela Cambei, who managed 94kg. However, Hang took charge in the clean and jerk, successfully hoisting 121kg to claim gold and the overall title with a total of 214kg. Cambei, who won silver at the Paris 2024 Olympics, finished second overall with 208kg. Thailand’s Surodchana Khambao, another Olympic bronze medallist, completed the podium with a combined total of 200kg.

In the men’s 60kg division, Wang Hao of China put on a composed and tactical performance to secure his first world title. He impressed early with a 138kg snatch on his second attempt, the best in the field, and later managed 164kg in the clean and jerk to seal an overall total of 302kg. That total was enough to edge out Thailand’s Theerapong Silachai, the Paris 2024 silver medallist, who finished just three kilograms behind with 299kg. The DPR Korea’s Pang Un-chol rounded off the top three, earning bronze with a combined lift of 295kg.

The championships in Norway have continued to showcase incredible performances and fierce rivalries among Asia’s strongest lifters. North Korea and China have once again proven to be the dominant forces, collecting multiple medals across the divisions. Fans were treated to thrilling contests of strength, precision, and discipline, with several athletes breaking personal bests.

Competition will resume on Saturday (4 October) with the men’s 65kg and women’s 58kg categories, promising yet another exciting day of action. Among those to watch is Norway’s own Solfrid Koanda, who has become a symbol of empowerment and perseverance. “I am a powerful reminder of breaking barriers,” Koanda said, reflecting on her journey from working with cables to lifting world-class weights.