Published: 08:38, May 13, 2025
Chinese teenager Pan breaks junior records at Asian Weightlifting Championships
By Xinhua
Pan Yunhua of China competes during the Asian Weightlifting Championships in Jiangshan, East China's Zhejiang province, on May 12, 2025. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

HANGZHOU, China - Rising star Pan Yunhua of China rewrote Asian junior weightlifting history on Monday at the Asian Weightlifting Championships in Jiangshan, East China's Zhejiang province, smashing both the clean and jerk and total weight records in the men's 89kg division.

Pan lifted 163kg in the snatch to place fifth early on. However, he staged a dramatic comeback during the clean and jerk session, successfully hoisting 202kg on his opening attempt before sealing 209kg lift. His combined total of 372kg demolished the previous Asian junior record of 208kg (clean and jerk) and 370kg (total), earning him silver in clean & jerk and bronze overall.

Pan Yunhua of China competes during the Asian Weightlifting Championships in Jiangshan, East China's Zhejiang province, on May 12, 2025. (PHOTO / XINHUA)
Pan Yunhua of China celebrates during the Asian Weightlifting Championships in Jiangshan, East China's Zhejiang province, on May 12, 2025. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

His teammate Li Dayin claimed gold with 176kg but fell short in clean and jerk (203kg), settling for bronze in that discipline and silver overall (379kg). Ro Kwang-ryol of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea dominated the category, snatching silver (168kg), then overpowering the field with a 212kg clean and jerk for gold and a 380kg total to complete a victory.

"I'd rate my weight strategy 8/10 today, but my competitive focus was only at 3," Pan admitted. "I need more focus on the stage next time."