Zhang Haiqin Secures Triple Gold with Junior World Records in Women’s 55 kg at 2025 Asian Championships
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The 2025 Asian Weightlifting Championships in Jiangshan, China continued its showcase of rising stars and established talents with the Women’s 55 kg A session. Held on May 10th at the Hushan Sports Park, the competition featured a tightly contested field of nine lifters from across Asia.
It was the youngest of them all, ZHANG Haiqin from China, who made the biggest impact—going six-for-six, sweeping golds, and rewriting junior world and Asian records in her home country.
Category Context: The Next Generation of 55s
This event was missing KANG Hyon Gyong, the holder of the 104/131/234 kg world records. However, that opened the door for new talent, and none shined brighter than the Chinese junior sensation. With multiple athletes still under 23 and recent competitors from the Junior World Championships, the session became a glimpse into the future of the category.
ZHANG Haiqin entered with the highest entry total (220 kg) and carried the weight of expectations. She had bombed out at the 2024 Worlds in clean & jerk after a strong snatch performance. Just two weeks prior to this championship, she competed at the Junior Worlds again. This time, she had something to prove — and she did.
Meet the Athletes
- ZHANG Haiqin (CHN) – Born in 2005, a junior lifter with a best snatch of 99 kg and 126 kg clean & jerk, this was her shot at redemption after the 2024 Worlds bomb out.
- CHEN Guan Ling (TPE) – Also born in 2005, junior world record holder prior to this event.
- KLARISA Juliana (INA) – One of the most experienced in the field, medaled previously in regional events.
- HU Chia Chi (TPE) – Known for consistency and top 5 finishes.
- KIM Gayoung (KOR) – 2024 Worlds participant.
- WEE Rachel & CHUA Jiin Linn (SGP) – National standouts making their continental championship appearance.
- NINGGAN Basilia Bamerop (INA) – Young talent from Indonesia, showed power but struggled with control.
- ALHASHMI Zahra (UAE) – The first female lifter from the UAE to appear at this championship.
Snatch Session Recap
The session began with lighter openers from WEE Rachel (71 kg), CHUA Jiin Linn (69 kg), and ALHASHMI Zahra (47 kg), setting the baseline.
NINGGAN displayed strength but failed to register a good lift, going 0-for-3 at 77/77/79 kg.
As the top athletes came in, the competition escalated. KLARISA Juliana moved confidently through 78-80-82 kg with 3 good lifts, while CHEN Guan Ling showed nerves of steel, nailing 83 kg only on her last attempt.
Then came ZHANG Haiqin. Her opener at 90 kg looked effortless. Her second at 95 kg confirmed her dominance. And with a third attempt at 99 kg, she secured gold and a new Junior World and Asian Record in snatch.
Snatch Medals:
🥇 ZHANG Haiqin (CHN) – 99 kg
🥈 CHEN Guan Ling (TPE) – 83 kg
🥉 KLARISA Juliana (INA) – 82 kg
Snatch Results Table:
Clean & Jerk Recap
The clean & jerk opened with a smooth 62 kg by ALHASHMI Zahra. WEE Rachel followed with 86 kg. CHUA hit 85 kg but missing 90.
NINGGAN, despite her snatch bomb-out, managed 97 kg in the last attempt—a moral victory for the Indonesian lifter.
Top lifters entered above 100 kg: KLARISA hit 107, HU Chia Chi 110, and CHEN Guan Ling 111. All solid lifts.
But ZHANG Haiqin once again stunned. She made 115 kg look light, broke into a smile at 121 kg (a new Junior World and Asian Record), and then nailed 126 kg — securing her third gold and shattering the Junior World Record Total with 225 kg.
Top 4 lifters managed to perform all 3-of-3 lifts.
Clean & Jerk Medals:
🥇 ZHANG Haiqin (CHN) – 126 kg
🥈 CHEN Guan Ling (TPE) – 111 kg
🥉 HU Chia Chi (TPE) – 110 kg
Clean & Jerk Results Table:
Total Recap and Medals
ZHANG Haiqin’s 99/126 performance gave her a 225 kg total and three Junior World Records in Snatch, Clean & Jerk, and Total. A perfect 6-for-6 day and a loud announcement of her arrival.
Total Medals Recap:
🥇 ZHANG Haiqin (CHN) – 225 kg (99/126)
🥈 CHEN Guan Ling (TPE) – 194 kg (83/111)
🥉 HU Chia Chi (TPE) – 190 kg (80/110)
Total Results Table:
Record Breaks
ZHANG Haiqin broke or equaled the following junior records:
- Snatch: 99 kg (Junior WR & Asian Junior WR)
- Clean & Jerk: 126 kg (Junior WR & Asian Junior WR)
- Total: 225 kg (Junior WR & Asian Junior WR)
Surprises and Highlights
- A flawless 6-for-6 day by ZHANG in front of a home crowd.
- CHEN Guan Ling and HU Chia Chi ensured Chinese Taipei took solid silver.
- Indonesia’s NINGGAN bombed out in snatch but managed a valid lift in clean & jerk.
- UAE’s Zahra Alhashmi was the first from her country to compete in this category at the continental level.
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Author: Hladkova Vladyslava
Media Team Member
Best Results: Snatch – 57 kg,
C&J – 73 kg
I’m Vladyslava, and sport has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. Over the past 10 years, I’ve explored it all – from CrossFit and powerlifting to running a half marathon. But my true passion found its home in Olympic weightlifting.
I’m proud to be a Ukrainian Weightlifting Champion (2018) and a prize winner of national championships in 2018–2019. My best lifts? A 57 kg snatch and a 73 kg clean & jerk in the 51 kg weight class. I’m also a Candidate for Master of Sports in weightlifting – and I’m still chasing new goals every day.
Beyond training, I’ve earned two Master’s degrees: one in Sport Management and another in Physical Education. Whether I’m lifting a barbell or helping others grow in sport, I’m all in – because for me, sport isn’t just a hobby, it’s a lifestyle.