IWF World Championships:
Moeini sets new world record as Iranian duo wins three medals
Iran’s Alireza Moeini and Ali A’alipour won first medals for the country at the IWF World Championships, collecting a snatch gold and double silvers in the men’s 94kg class on the eighth day of the competition in Forde, Norway.
Reigning Olympic champion Karlos Nasar of Bulgaria, meanwhile, finished empty-handed in the snatch but rounded off the day with a clean & jerk and total gold.
It was an all-Iranian one-two in the snatch event, with Moeini walking away with the ultimate prize thanks to a 182kg lift with on his third attempt – becoming Iran’s first world record holder since Sohrab Moradi.
A’alipour took the snatch silver with 176kg – one kilogram clear of Colombian bronze winner Jokser Albornoz, who impressed from the B Group with three medals.
Nasar settled for a fourth-place finish with 173kg after failing with his final two snatch attempts.
The Bulgarian sensation, however, went on to dominate the C&J showdown with a new world record of 222kg, with Albornoz (215kg) and Romain Imadouchène (211kg) of France in the following spots.
A’alipour missed two attempts to finish fourth in the C&J with 211kg – two kilograms above fifth-placed Moeini.
On 173-222-395, Nasar finished four kilograms clear of Moeini, while secured his second bronze of the day with 390kg.
“I endured seven months of hard training to prepare for the World Championships,” Moeini said, adding: “I had a clear goal here and that was to make six successful efforts and set a new snatch world record in Iran’s name. I dedicate these medals and the world record to all of my dear fellow-Iranians.”
“Nasar is a great champion and an Olympic gold medalist, but I don’t focus on that when we compete. My only goal is to do my best and secure the top spot for my country,” Moeini said of his Bulgarian rival.
On improving on last year’s clean & jerk campaign at the world event, Moeini said: “I had a poor performance in Bahrain due to a shoulder injury. However, head coach Behdad Salimi and [the head of the federation] Sajjad Anoushiravani helped me a lot to recover and lift decent weights this year. I just hope to have even a stronger finish in the future competitions.”
A’alipour, meanwhile, threw down the gauntlet to the Bulgarian champion, saying: “I’m deeply disappointed with my clean & jerk efforts. If I can just replicate my training numbers on the platform, the gold medal will belong to me next year. I’ve already set sights on sweeping Nasar aside.”
Another familiar face for the Iranians in Thursday’s event was Kianoush Rostami, who won an Olympic gold for the country in Rio 2016, but had a night to forget under the Kosovo flag, posting 172-205-377 to finish fifth.
The final day of the World Championships will see Iran’s former Olympic silver medalist Ali Davoudi, who bagged triple world medals last year, and Ayat Sharifi – fresh off double Asian golds in May – vie for glory in the +110kg event, which will also feature Armenian Varazdat Lalayan and Gor Minasyan of Bahrain – silver and bronze medalists to Georgian great Lasha Talakhadze at the Paris Olympics.