Weightlifters from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) are determined to show a new look in the upcoming Beijing Olympics, said a report on Tuesday.
The DPRK weightlifters did not gain many good records in international arena in recent years, so they worked extremely hard for a change at the Beijing Olympic Games, Han Kyong Si, vice secretary-general of the DPRK weightlifting association, told web version of Choson Sinbo, a newspaper run by ethnic Koreans in Japan.
Cha Kum Chol, one of the four DPRK qualifiers for the Beijing Olympics men's weightlifting, won a gold medal at the 2007 World Men's Weightlifting Championships. He said that willpower is more important than physical strength and techniques.
"As a young athlete, I have the resolution and confidence to win a gold medal in Beijing," Cha said.
Three DPRK women weightlifters qualified for the Beijing Olympics. Ri Song Hui, who won gold medals at the 2002 world weightlifting championships and the Asian Games, vowed to take a gold medal.
"We have learnt a lot from Ri," one of the qualifiers O Jong Ae said. "We will try our best to compete."
(Xinhua News Agency July 29, 2008)