Asian Games: North Korea picks up 1st gold medals of Hangzhou Asiad
North Korea captured its first two gold medals of the Asian Games in China’s Hangzhou on Thursday, with gymnast An Chang Ok taking one of them in the women’s vault and the other clinched in the women’s team 10-meter running target range shooting.
An led a 1-2 North Korean finish with Kim Son Hyang in the country’s first international multi-sport event appearance since the 2018 Asian Games, also known as Asiad, in Jakarta and Palembang, Indonesia. North Korea had been staying out of competitions due to its COVID-19 border controls.
China’s Yu Linmin finished third at Huanglong Sports Centre Gymnasium.
In shooting, Paek Ok Sim, Pang Myong Hyang and Ri Ji Ye gave a military-style salute on the podium, shedding tears as their nation’s flag flew high overhead.
Kazakhstan earned silver and Indonesia bronze.
