World Para Powerlifting Championships:
Aminzadeh extends superheavyweight dominance with third world title
It was another golden day for Iran at the World Para Powerlifting Championships as Ahmad Aminzadeh extended his dominance in the superheavyweight category on the final day of individual competitions in Cairo on Friday.
Reigning Paralympic champion Aminzadeh clinched his third world title with a 260kg lift in his second round and finished nine kilograms ahead of Gustavo Am Melo De Souza from Brazil in the men’s over 107kg weight class.
The 34-year-old’s victory also ensured that the legacy of the late Iranian legend Siamand Rahman lives on in the superheavyweight category.
“After Paris 2024 Paralympics, I didn’t train much as I had some pain in my chest. But I’m happy that I won the gold here. I will go back to Iran, work on my recovery and train harder,” said Aminzadeh who suffered an injury in Paris 2024.
“This is the first time I attempted to lift 270kg, but it wasn’t meant to be here. I hope I can get it in the next competition.”
However, the fight was between Melo De Souza and Georgia’s Paris 2024 bronze medalist Akaki Jintcharadze for the second place as they stayed neck and neck in the second round, both lifting 247 kg.
The final round saw Melo De Souza finishing one kilogram ahead of Jintcharadze (250 kg). In the process, Melo De Souza improved his own Americas record from 236kg to 251kg while Jintcharadze broke the European record of 248kg set at Tbilisi 2024.
Aminzadeh’s triumph took Iran’s medal haul to five medals in the Elite competition.
Aliakbar Gharibshahi once again proved to be in a league of his own in the men’s -107kg event, delivering another world record-breaking performance to claim his third World Championships title on Thursday.
Gharibshahi, also a gold medalist in Paris 2024, 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. He attempted to go further with 260kg only to falter this time and save it for later. 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 tally at the World Championships 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 (men’s -88kg - Next Gen) set a new world record of 172kg to capture the ultimate prize, while Reza Enayatollahi secured double golds in the men’s -97kg category – thanks a new Next Gen world record of 195kg, and an overall tally of 383kg.
Hassan Mohammad Hosseinpour claimed the top spot in the Next Gen -80kg class with a 156kg effort, 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.