North Korean weightlifter Ryo Un-hui picked up the silver medal in the women's 69-kilogram event
at the Incheon Asian Games on Wednesday, claiming a 15th medal for the communist country.
The 21-year-old hoisted 121㎏ in the snatch, an Asian Games record, and 141㎏ in the clean and jerk for a total of 262㎏, 6㎏ short of the Chinese gold medalist Xiang Yanmei's 268㎏. Chinese Taipei's Huang Shih Hsu ended at third place with 233㎏.
By leading the field in the snatch, Ryo set herself up for a duel against Xiang. Yet after lifting 140㎏ in her second clean and jerk attempt, Ryo added only 1㎏ to the bar in her final try.
Officials present in the athletes' warm-up area later said that Ryo actually had intended to add more weights for her final attempt, but she and her team failed to make the request within the given time limit.
The young lifter was seen crying inconsolably during the victory ceremony as she watched the gold medal go to Xiang. The red-eyed Ryo declined to comment and left the Moonlight Festival Garden Weightlifting Venue soon afterwards.
A crowd of cheerers from both Koreas stood at each side of the bleachers and consoled the tearful athlete with shouts of encouragement.
The Asiad silver is a first for Ryo, who has won a silver medal at the world championships and a gold at the Asian championships last year.
With the latest silver, North Korea's total medal count was raised to 15 as of Wednesday. Seven medals were won in weightlifting events. (Yonhap)
