ASIAN GAMES/Taiwan takes silver in kurash, weightlifting at Asian Games

Taipei, Sept. 27 (CNA) Taiwan's Lee Wan-ting (李宛庭) won the nation's first silver medal in kurash on Sunday, while Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Chen Wen-huei (陳玟卉) won silver in the women's 69-kilogram weightlifting event at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.

Lee, 33, finished second after losing 3-0 to Uzbekistan's Ibodatkhon Agojonova in the women's 57-kilogram event.

Kurash is a traditional martial art with roots in Central Asia.

The sport focuses primarily on throwing techniques, with competitors aiming to force their opponents onto their backs. Ground techniques, chokeholds and joint locks are prohibited, and bouts are decided solely by standing throws, according to information provided by Asian Games organizers.

Lee was named Best Female Player by the International Kurash Association in 2024.

She graduated from National Taiwan Sport University in Taoyuan and began practicing judo in elementary school before taking up kurash in college.

Lee had failed to reach the semifinals at both the 2018 and 2022 Asian Games.

Lee's teammate Wang Ping-chun (王品淳) also won a bronze medal in the women's 57-kilogram kurash event after losing 10-0 to Lee in the semifinals earlier Sunday.

In weightlifting, Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Chen lifted a combined 232 kg in the women's 69-kilogram division.

She recorded 106 kg in the snatch and 126 kg in the clean and jerk.

North Korea's Song Kuk-hyang won gold with a combined lift of 273 kg.

Taiwan, competing under the name Chinese Taipei, had won two gold, seven silver and 18 bronze medals as of Sunday afternoon.