Paralympian Rostami bags double world powerlifting golds
Iran’s Rouhollah Rostami finished his campaign at the World Para Powerlifting Championships on a high note, making a clean sweep of two golds in the men’s 80kg event in Dubai, the UAE.
A Paralympic champion in Tokyo two years ago, Rostami walked away with the ultimate prize thanks to a best lift of 232kg – one kilogram clear of Chinese silver winner Gu Xiaofei – before an overall tally of 686kg secured the total gold for the Iranian – also a silver medalist in London 2012 – on Tuesday.
Gu, who had finished behind Rostami in Tokyo, also settled for the total silver, while Rasool Mohsin of Iraq grabbed a brace of bronzes.
Rostami’s triumphs took the country’s gold count to four in Dubai, after superheavyweights Ali-Akbar Gharibshahi and Ahmad Aminzadeh had come out on top in their respective weight classes.
Representing Iran in the men’s 107kg contest, Gharibshahi finished on the top podium with a best lift of 248kg, while Saman Razi registered 455kg for the total bronze.
The +107kg competition, meanwhile, saw Aminzadeh lift 255kg to beat fellow Iranian Mahdi Sayyadi to the top spot.
Elsewhere in the men’s competitions, Amir Ja’fari (best) and Ali Seifi (total) notched up a couple of silvers in the 65kg event, while Hamed Solhipour picked up the 97kg bronze.