World Para Powerlifting Championships:
Iran’s Gharibshahi shatters world record to win gold
Iranian para powerlifter Aliakbar Gharibshahi once again proved to be in a league of his own, delivering another world record-breaking performance to claim his third World Championships title in Cairo on Thursday.
Reigning Paralympic champion Gharibshahi displayed an incredible show of strength and determination to break his own world record of 254kg (set in Dubai 2022) by one kilogram with his second lift in the men’s up to 107kg showdown. He attempted to go further with 260kg only to falter this time and save it for later.
“After last year’s Paris Paralympics, I trained a lot to raise the bar again. I came to Cairo with a new world record in my mind and wanted to set 260kg but maybe next time,” said the 43-year-old Iran, who won the gold in the French capital with a Paralympic record lift of 252kg.
Tokyo 2020 champion Sodnompiljee Enkhbayar settled for the silver at 243kg, with American Bobby Body taking the bronze with a 237kg effort.
This was Iran’s fourth medal in the Elite competition in Cairo.
Two-time Paralympic champion Rouhollah Rostami had to settle for a runner-up finish in the men’s -88kg weight class with a lift of 243kg – one kilogram short of China’s Yan Panpan – taking his personal World Championships tally to one gold and four silvers.
Iran’s second silver medal came in the men’s -72kg class, where Amir Jafari posted 186-193-202 to finish behind Malaysian Bonnie Bunyau Gustin in the total standings.
Aliasghar Abareqi took the bronze in the men’s -97kg contest thanks to a best effort of 227kg.
Earlier in the Egyptian capital, Iranians had impressed with nine medals, including a remarkable eight golds, in the Rookie and Next Gen age class at the World Championships.
Atiyeh Sadat Hosseini, 17, made history by winning Iran’s maiden women’s gold at the world showpiece, triumphing in the -61kg category.
Mani Saeidi clinched the gold in the men’s -88kg category (Next Gen) by setting a new world record of 166kg before bettering the mark with 172kg on his second attempt.
Reza Enayatollahi secured the gold in the men’s -97kg category with a new Next Gen world record of 195kg, before an overall tally of 383kg saw the Iranian prodigy also clinch the total gold.
Hassan Mohammad Hosseinpour claimed the ultimate prize in the Next Gen -80kg class, thanks to a 156kg lift, but settled for the total silver with 303kg.
Amirali Es’haqnia also enjoyed a double-gold winning campaign in the +107kg event with a 171-336 tally.