N. Korean weightlifter wins silver

RIO DE JANEIRO, Aug. 14 (Yonhap) — North Korean weightlifter Kim Kuk-hyang grabbed a silver medal in the women’s +75 kilograms weight class at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics on Sunday.

Kim lifted 131 kg to lead the field in snatch, and hoisted 175 kg in clean and jerk for 306 kg total. She finished 1 kg behind Meng Suping of China, who finished 1 kg behind Kim in snatch but lifted 177 kg in her final clean and jerk attempt for the gold.

Sarah Elizabeth Robles was a distant third at 286 kg.

In this EPA photo, North Korean weightlifter Kim Kuk-hyang competes during the women’s +75kg category at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics on Aug. 14, 2016.

Two South Koreans in the field finished well out of medal contention. Lee Hui-sol was fifth at 275 kg total (122 kg in snatch, 153 kg in clean and jerk) and Son Young-hee ended in sixth with 273 kg (118 kg in snatch and 155 kg in clean and jerk).

North Korea has so far won six medals in Rio, four of them in weightlifting.

Kim, the 2015 world bronze medalist, was the lightest among the eight contestants at 100.34 kg, weighing nearly 20 kg less than Meng.

With Kim leading Meng by 1 kg after snatch and leaving Robles 5 kg back, the stage was set for a two-horse race in clean and jerk.

Kim lifted 162 kg in her first attempt and went all the way up to 170 kg in her next attempt.

Meng hoisted 175 kg in her first try but with her legs not fully straightened, it was ruled a no lift.

Meng did get a clean lift at 175 kg in her next attempt, and Kim upped the ante by lifting 175 kg with her final attempt, moving to 306 kg total and daring Meng to top it.

Meng, a former world record holder, was up to the task, as she lifted 177 kg to beat the North Korean by 1 kg in total weight and grab China’s fifth weightlifting gold in Rio.