Sixth Day of the 2025 World Weightlifting Championships: Armenian "Zeroes" and López's Record

On October 7, in the Norwegian city of Førde, the sixth competition day of the 2025 World Weightlifting Championships took place. Medals were contested in two weight categories — men’s 88 kg and women’s 69 kg.

Men (88 kg)

A confident victory was claimed by 2024 Olympic silver medalist Yeison López from Colombia, who set world records in the snatch and the total for the new 88 kg category. López previously competed in the 89 kg class, which has now been discontinued. In that division, he used to trail Bulgarian lifter Karlos Nasar, but after Nasar’s move to the 94 kg category, López became the undisputed leader in 88 kg.

North Korea’s Ro Kwang-ryol won the clean and jerk, but lost to the Colombian by 10 kg in the total, taking silver.

Armenian lifters Suren Grigoryan and Andranik Karapetyan (representing Bosnia and Herzegovina) performed below expectations — both finished the competition without a total result.
The 21-year-old Grigoryan succeeded in lifting 160 kg on his third snatch attempt, but failed to complete any of his three clean and jerk attempts at 195 kg.

Andranik Karapetyan made his debut under the flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina, but it was an unsuccessful one. In the snatch — his traditionally stronger lift — he failed at 168 and 173 kg. The 29-year-old did not appear for the clean and jerk.

Women (69 kg)

In the women’s event, Colombia and North Korea faced off again, but this time Song Kuk-hyang of North Korea triumphed, setting three world records — in the snatch, clean and jerk, and total.
This marks the fifth gold medal for North Korea at the championship — its female lifters have won all five women’s categories held so far.

Colombian lifters took second and third place, with one competing under the flag of Bahrain.

Results — 7 October, 2025

Men, 88 kg — Total (Top 10):

1. Yeison López (Colombia) — 387 kg (177 + 210) — World Record

2. Ro Kwang-ryol (North Korea) — 377 kg (162 + 215)

3. Marin Robu (Moldova) — 369 kg (167 + 200)

4. Arley Méndez (Chile) — 368 kg (172 + 196)

5. Lorenzo Tarquini (Italy) — 357 kg (159 + 198)

6. Iliya Salehi (Iran) — 356 kg (163 + 193)

7. Cristiano Ficco (Italy) — 352 kg (159 + 193)

8. Hsieh Meng-en (Chinese Taipei) — 349 kg (152 + 192)

9. Braydon Kennedy (Canada) — 341 kg (156 + 185)

10. Brandon Victorian (USA) — 340 kg (153 + 187)

Clean and Jerk:

1. Ro Kwang-ryol (North Korea) — 215 kg — World Record

2. Yeison López (Colombia) — 210 kg

3. Marin Robu (Moldova) — 200 kg

Snatch:

1. Yeison López (Colombia) — 177 kg — World Record

2. Arley Méndez (Chile) — 172 kg

3. Marin Robu (Moldova) — 167 kg

Women, 69 kg — Total (Top 10):

1. Song Kuk-hyang (North Korea) — 270 kg (120 + 150) — World Record

2. Julieth Rodríguez (Colombia) — 241 kg (110 + 131)

3. Ingrid Segura (Bahrain) — 241 kg (107 + 134)

4. Siuzanna Valodzka (Belarus) — 238 kg (106 + 132)

5. Chen Wen Huei (Chinese Taipei) — 232 kg (100 + 132)

6. Charlotte Simoneau (Canada) — 232 kg (106 + 132)

7. Fransheska Matías (Dominican Republic) — 230 kg (102 + 128)

8. Olivia Selemaia (New Zealand) — 226 kg (102 + 124)

9. Kristel Macrohon (Philippines) — 223 kg (101 + 122)

10. Alexis Ashworth (Canada) — 221 kg (100 + 121)

Clean and Jerk:

1. Song Kuk-hyang (North Korea) — 150 kg — World Record

2. Ingrid Segura (Bahrain) — 134 kg

3. Chen Wen Huei (Chinese Taipei) — 132 kg

Snatch:

1. Song Kuk-hyang (North Korea) — 120 kg — World Record

2. Julieth Rodríguez (Colombia) — 110 kg

3. Ingrid Segura (Bahrain) — 107 kg

On October 8, the finals will take place in:
Men — 94 kg, Women — 77 kg.
Armenia’s Anna Amroyan will compete in the women’s 77 kg (Group B).

Medal Table after Six Days (only totals counted):

North Korea — 5 gold, 3 silver, 1 bronze
Thailand — 1 gold, 1 silver, 2 bronze
Colombia — 1 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze
China — 1 gold, 1 bronze
Turkey — 1 gold
Indonesia — 1 gold
India — 1 silver
Canada — 1 silver
Nigeria — 1 silver
Japan — 1 silver
Romania — 1 silver
Chinese Taipei — 1 bronze
USA — 1 bronze
Egypt — 1 bronze
Moldova — 1 bronze
Bahrain — 1 bronze