Fazza 2024 Para Powerlifting World Cup:
Gharibshahi wins heavyweight gold
Iranians grabbed three medals at the Fazza 2024 Para Powerlifting World Cup in Dubai on Monday, including an Aliakbar Gharibshahi’s gold in the heavyweight class.
Representing the country in the 107kg contests, Gharibshahi picked up where he had left off in last October’s Asian Para Games as a best lift of 250kg saw the Iranian claim the ultimate prize.
This was a third gold for Iran in Dubai, following Ahmad Aminzadeh’s superheavyweight triumph as well as Mohsen Bakhtiar’s Asian record-breaking performance in the 59kg event.
Gharibshahi was joined by teammate Saman Razi – a Paralympic bronze medalist three years ago – in Monday’s event but the Iranian was unfortunate to miss out on the podium as he registered 215kg to end in the fourth place.
Elsewhere, Seyyed Hamed Solhipour – a silver winner in Tokyo – had to settle for the runner-up spot in the 97kg class, courtesy of a 221kg lift.
Reigning Paralympic champion Rouhollah Rostami took Iran’s medal count to five later in day, when he lifted 214kg to finish second in the 88kg weight class – a second major silver for the Iranian in five months after his runner-up finish in the Asian Para Games.
More than 180 athletes from 32 countries took part at the 13th edition of the competition, which also served as a qualification event for this summer’s Paralympic Games in Paris.