Weightlifting worlds 2026: Rahmat takes silver, Weeraphon bronze as North Korea's Ri wins men's 75kg
Indonesia's Rahmat Erwin Abdullah and Thailand's Weeraphon Wichuma put Southeast Asia on the men's 75kg podium in Ningbo, behind North Korea's Ri Ryong Hyon.
Southeast Asia claimed two of the three medals in the men's 75kg at the IWF World Weightlifting Championships in Ningbo, China on Saturday, 31 October. North Korea's Ri Ryong Hyon won the title with a 365kg total, Indonesia's Rahmat Erwin Abdullah took silver with 359kg, and Thailand's Weeraphon Wichuma earned bronze with 355kg.
The victory gave North Korea its fifth world title in the first five days of the championships, which run until 8 November at the Ningbo Olympic Sports Center. Ningbo is on the same time zone as Malaysia (UTC+8).
How the 75kg final played out
Ri set the pace in the snatch with 160kg, edging Turkey's Kaan Kahriman (159kg) and Colombia's Hugo Montes (158kg) for the snatch gold. Rahmat lifted 157kg and Weeraphon 155kg, leaving both Southeast Asians within striking distance going into the clean and jerk.
Ri then made 205kg in the clean and jerk, also the best in that discipline, to reach 365kg. Rahmat lifted 202kg for second place in the clean and jerk and a 359kg total. Weeraphon's 200kg clean and jerk was third best and gave him 355kg overall, enough for bronze ahead of Montes, who finished fourth on 346kg.
| Lifter | Nation | Snatch | Clean & jerk | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ri Ryong Hyon | North Korea | 160 | 205 | 365 |
| Rahmat Erwin Abdullah | Indonesia | 157 | 202 | 359 |
| Weeraphon Wichuma | Thailand | 155 | 200 | 355 |
| Hugo Montes | Colombia | 158 | 188 | 346 |
Rahmat's world-record bid
Rahmat came to Ningbo as the clean and jerk world record holder in the new 75kg class with 206kg, a mark he set while winning Asian Games gold in Nagoya in September. He attempted 207kg in Ningbo, which would have broken his own record, but the lift was not successful. The IWF's own day report referred to a timing mix-up around the attempt, which the Indonesian took in good humour.
His total in Ningbo was 7kg below the 366kg he lifted in Nagoya, and Ri's winning total was also a kilogram short of that figure.
Another podium for Weeraphon
Weeraphon, Thailand's Paris 2024 Olympic silver medallist, has been one of the most consistent lifters in the region. He won world titles in Riyadh in 2023 (73kg) and Forde in 2025 (71kg) before the IWF reshaped its bodyweight categories this year. Bronze in Ningbo extends his record of reaching the world podium.
North Korea's strong week
North Korea have dominated the opening days in Ningbo. On Friday, 30 October, Pak Pyol won the men's 70kg with world records of 157kg in the snatch and 355kg in total, although his team-mate Ri Won Ju, who took silver, dislocated his elbow on a 205kg clean and jerk attempt. On the same day, Oh Kwang Ok won the women's 57kg with 227kg.
The championships continue through next weekend with the heavier categories still to come.
Key takeaways
- Ri Ryong Hyon (North Korea) won the men's 75kg world title with 160kg + 205kg = 365kg.
- Indonesia's Rahmat Erwin Abdullah took silver with 359kg; his 207kg world-record attempt failed.
- Thailand's Weeraphon Wichuma won bronze with 355kg.
- North Korea have now won five world titles in the first five days in Ningbo.
- The championships run until 8 November; Ningbo shares Malaysia's time zone.
FAQ
Where and when are the 2026 World Weightlifting Championships? In Ningbo, China, from 27 October to 8 November 2026, at the Ningbo Olympic Sports Center.
What is the men's 75kg clean and jerk world record? It is 206kg, held by Indonesia's Rahmat Erwin Abdullah. He tried 207kg in Ningbo but did not complete the lift.
Did any Southeast Asian lifters win medals in the 75kg? Yes. Rahmat Erwin Abdullah (Indonesia) won silver and Weeraphon Wichuma (Thailand) won bronze in the total.
Sources: International Weightlifting Federation (IWF), Radio Nacional de Colombia, Sportaran, Weightlifting House, Wikipedia