From May 29 to 30, the 2026 China-Japan-Korea Weightlifting Invitational Tournament, also serving as a test event for the Asian Games, was held in Nagoya, Japan. The Chinese team swept all 12 gold medals across six men's and six women's weight categories. Pan Zhixin, a 69kg lifter from Maonan District, Maoming City, Guangdong Province, claimed gold with a 115 kg snatch, a 135 kg clean and jerk, and a total lift of 250 kg—earning her first international title.
Recent years have witnessed the rapid rise of 22-year-old Pan: gold at the 2022 Guangdong Provincial Games, bronze at the 15th National Games in 2025, and the overall title at the 2025 National Weightlifting Championships. She started her journey at a rural school in Aotou Town, Maonan District. Discovered by a talent scout in 2014, she later received training at Maoming Sports School. She joined the provincial team in December 2022 and earned her spot on the national team in December 2025.
Her first coach, Li Chunju, described Pan as a hard-working and tenacious athlete with remarkable perseverance. Pan now sets her sights on qualifying for the 2026 World Championships and the 2026 Asian Games.
Reporter: Ye Jie
Photo: Publicity Department of Maonan District of Maoming
