Men’s last two categories wind up successful Youth Olympic Games
Singapore – 19 August 2010:
The last two men’s categories – 85kg yesterday and +85kg this morning – wound up the 1st Youth Olympic Games in Singapore: for weightlifting an entirely successful debut.
Suspense and drama were both prevalent in the men’s 85kg category, when Russian Alexey Kosov, after convincingly in the lead in snatch with 2kg plus bodyweight advantage over Bulgaria’s Georgi Shikov finally lost to the latter in an exciting end-game. Shikov put a well-planned and impeccable six-on-six performance on stage, resulting in an Olympic gold medal for Bulgaria. Meanwhile Konstantyn Reva (UKR) did his own best earning the bronze medal.
A very similar situation came about today, in the last competition, which was fought for the Youth Olympic title in the men’s +85kg. In the presence of IOC President Dr. Jacques Rogge in the Toa Payoh Sports Hall, two hardly 16-year old giants were battling in a spectacular show. Gor Minasyan of Armenia was ahead of his challenger after the snatch, lifting 5kg more and enjoying (about 30kg bodyweight advantage). Yet, in the final countdown, Iran’s Alireza Kazeminejad decided the outcome of the battle as early a in his second attempt at 196kg, making a 351kg total against the Armenian’s 350kg finish.
The host Singapore must be congratulated and thanked for putting on these inaugural Games on a much higher than expected level and justifying the IOC’s initiative. Both the young participants and the officials engaged in the 1st YOG will always remember the events in Singapore, in August 2010.
(Report and photos by Aniko Nemeth-Mora, IWF/World Weightlifting)
