Wave Veeraphol Wins Silver As Indonesia Lifts Gold at Asian Games
Thai weightlifter Veeraphol Vichumma claimed silver in the men's 75-kilogram category at the Asian Games in Japan, lifting a combined 365 kilograms as North Korea's Ri Chong Song took gold with a world-standard-breaking performance.
At the 20th Asian Games weightlifting competition in Nagoya, Japan on September 26, 2025, Thai lifters contended for medals in two weight categories. In the men's 75-kilogram division, Veeraphol Vichumma, a Paris 2024 Olympic silver medalist, successfully completed three snatch attempts at 155, 158, and 160 kilograms, equaling Indonesia's Abdullah Rahmat Erwin's snatch total. North Korea's Ri Chong Song claimed the snatch with 162 kilograms, breaking the world standard of 159 kilograms.
In the clean and jerk, Veeraphol missed his first attempt at 200 kilograms, succeeded on his second at the same weight, and successfully lifted 205 kilograms on his third attempt. However, Ri Chong Song lifted 206 kilograms on his second attempt to take gold, then declined his third lift. Ri finished with a combined total of 366 kilograms, breaking the world standard of 349 kilograms (snatch 160, clean and jerk 206). Veeraphol won silver with a combined total of 365 kilograms (snatch 160, clean and jerk 205), while Ri Chong Song from North Korea earned bronze with 357 kilograms.
In the men's 70-kilogram category, Thai lifter Nart Theerawat Rattanpetch struggled, completing only a 137-kilogram snatch and 170-kilogram clean and jerk for a combined total of 307 kilograms, placing sixth. North Korea's Ri Won Ju won gold with 349 kilograms (snatch 151, clean and jerk 198).
Thailand's weightlifting team has earned two silver and two bronze medals at these games. Silver medals came from Surasawadee Yodsart in the women's 57-kilogram category and Veeraphol in the 75-kilogram men's division. Bronze medals were won by Surjana Kambao in the women's 53-kilogram category and Theeraphong Silachai in the men's 60-kilogram division.
The National Sports Development Fund provides cash rewards: 2,000,000 baht for gold, 1,000,000 baht for silver, and 500,000 baht for bronze.
Schedule for other Thai weightlifters: September 28, 2025, men's 85-kilogram (Group B) — Prom Worraprot Nasuriwong at 10:00 a.m. Japan time; September 29, 2025, women's over 86 kilograms (Group A) — Jennie Supatchanin Kamhaeng at 4:20 p.m. Japan time.
