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IWF Committee meetings were held in Pattaya

The IWF Committees held their meetings prior to the 2019 IWF World Championships in Pattaya, Thailand. Matters of common interest were raised at the Joint Meeting before they split to their relevant groups. The need for discussions on the situation of transgender athletes was brought to attention by Medical Committee Chairman Dr Michael Irani. [caption id="attachment_28188" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Joint Meeting[/caption] The Coaching and Research Committee discussed several topics on its meeting in Pattaya. The members agreed to set further conditions regarding the IWF Coaching Courses. Next steps of the coaching accreditation process were reviewed such as using the Athlete Support Personnel Database to create the IWF Coaching Database. The attendees listened to the scientific report of Japan which consisted of many analysis done at the Junior World Championships in Fiji in 2019. In this regard, the guidelines for publishing scientific articles on the IWF website were examined. The members will work on the standards of the IWF Weightlifting Academy that will be shared afterward. [caption id="attachment_28190" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Coaching and Research Committee[/caption] The Medical Committee had important and urgent topics on their agenda, such as: The current and future situation on the Transgender issue, Injury surveillance, and the Medical aspects of Anti-Doping. Furthermore, several research projects were presented by the Medical Committee Members such as the Hip-Waist-Girth Ratio, IWF Early Specialization/Injuries in Weightlifting, Hip Screening Protocol Using Ultrasound and Physical Examination and Result in Different Age and Capacity of Weightlifters In-Competition, and Health Promotion by International Olympic Sport Federations. The Meeting had a special guest, Ms. Seza Tchobanian Medical Committee Chairman of the Asian Weightlifting Federation, who presented the work of the AWF Medical Committee. In addition the Local Organizing Committee and IWF Medical Committee Member Dr. Parameth Ladpli gave a comprehensive presentation regarding medical information of the IWF World Championships. [caption id="attachment_27870" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Medical Committee members[/caption] The Technical Committee discussed the experiences so far with the new Video Playback Technology (VPT), which was first put to use at the 2019 Youth World Championships in Las Vegas, USA. The TC agreed to issue some changes in camera positioning and the use of the system. The TC also voted some minor changes in the TCRR and the Technical Officials Guide Book. The updated versions will be published on iwf.net soon. [caption id="attachment_27875" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Technical Committee Members[/caption]

History of Indian Women at the Worlds

Indian women have had some success at the World Weightlifting Championships since 1989 with winning a total of 16 medals at weightlifting's biggest event till now. Kunjarani Devi, Karnam Malleswari, Lalita Polley, Bharti Singh, Neelam Setti Laxmi and Saikhom Mirabai Chanu are the winners who secured medals at the said tournament. The Indian women's squadron is all set to make their mark in the forthcoming World Weightlifting Championships, which starts from September 18 in Thailand. The event will conclude on the 27th of the same month, with Padma Shri awardee Saikhom Mirabai Chanu spearheading the seven-member Indian contingent. The Indian squad, which has already started their training in Thailand, features four women lifters for the biggest event in weightlifting calendar. The tetrad of World Weightlifting Championships gold medallist, Saikhom Mirabai Chanu (49kg), Asian Weightlifting Championships silver medallist, Jhilli Dalabehera (45kg), Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships gold medallist, Sneha Soren (55kg) and Rakhi Halder (64kg) will represent India in the women's category. India has won a total of 16 medals across the history of women's World Weightlifting Championships, the first of which was won by the most decorated Indian lifter Kunjarani Devi in 1989 in Manchester, England. Let's take a walk down the memory lane of India's success at the most esteemed event in weightlifting. India's most celebrated weightlifter and Padma Shri awardee Kunjarani Devi was the first lifter from the nation to earn a medal at the world championships. Kunjarani Devi is the first Indian lifter to make a mark on the world map, winning a silver medal in the 44-kg weight category, lifting 132.5 kg in the 1989 edition of the coveted world championship in Manchester, England. After a promising run in Manchester, Kunjarani participated in six consecutive world championships, with an exception of the 1993 edition in Melbourne, Australia. She won medals in every one of those big-ticket events. However, Kunjarani failed to finish at the top spot, always finding contentment with Silver medals. The first Indian women to win a medal at the Olympics, Karnam Malleswari is also a Padma Shri awardee. Malleswari won the Bronze medal in the 54 kg division after lifting a total lift of 177.5 kg at the 1993 championships in Melbourne, Australia. Since then, Malleswari won medals in three consecutive world championships. After leaving a mark in the previous World Weightlifting Championships, Malleswari earned the first Gold medal for India in the 1994 edition of weightlifting's biggest event in Istanbul, Turkey. She lifted a total of 197.5 kg in the 54 kg category. The 44-year-old lifter from Andhra Pradesh defended her Gold medal at the 1995 Weightlifting Championships in Guangzhou, China as her last lift Gold medal of 197.5 kg in the 54 kg division would have been enough to get to the top spot on the podium but she lifted a total of 202.5 kg . However, Malleswari failed to repeat her result as she had to be content with a Bronze medal in the 1996 edition of the championships, which was again hosted by Guangzhou, China. Lalita Polley is the first Indian weightlifter to win a medal in the lightweight category at the World Weightlifting Championships. Polley won the Bronze medal at the 1989 edition of weightlifting's most prestigious tournament. After a second highest snatch of 77.5 kg in the 56-kg weight category, Lalita Polley could make it to the Bronze medal with a clean & jerk lift of 87.5 kg, making the total lift of 160 kg. Bharti Singh is the only Indian lifter to win a medal in the heavyweight category. She won the second Bronze medal for India at the 1993 World Weightlifting Championships in Melbourne, Australia. A clean & jerk of 117.5 kg put Bharti Singh third on the podium with a total lift of 207.5 kg in 83-kg weight division. Neelam Setti Laxmi is the most successful Indian lifter in the lightweight category. She is also the last weightlifter to win a medal in the lightweight category. Neelam Setti Laxmi won a Silver Medal at the 1995 World Weightlifting Championships in Guangzhou, China. Laxmi lifted a total weight of 202.5 kg in the 59-kg category. Neelam Setti Laxmi also earned a Bronze medal at the 1997 Championships in Chiang Mai, Thailand. After lifting a second highest snatch of 100 kg, Laxmi had to settle with Bronze as she could manage a clean & jerk lift of 117.5 kg with a total of 217.5 kg. Mirabai Chanu, who will lead India's chances at the 2019 World Weightlifting Championships became the first Indian to win the world championships since Karnam Malleswari in 1995. At the age of 23, Chanu won the Gold medal in the Women's 48 kg category after lifting a competition record total of 194 kg, 85 kg in snatch and 109 kg in clean & jerk in the 2017 World Weightlifting Championships in Anaheim, CA, United States of America. Chanu lifted 1 kg more than Thailand's Thunya Sukcharoen, who stood second on the podium. For her biggiest achievement at the World Championships, and later a gold at the Commonwealth Games 2018, Chanu was also awarded Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award in 2018. Source:

Interview with Cara Heads Slaughter – Former USA National and Olympic Team Member

“A smile that illuminates the room” Text: David Colón Arroyo Photos: Cara Heads and Deborah Hudson As soon as she entered the warm-up area of the Pan American U17 Championship in Guayaquil, Ecuador, the space was invaded by a strange brightness that only a broad and beautiful smile can produce.  It was Cara Heads Slaughter, former member of the National and Olympic USA Team who is now coach to several athletes who have competed internationally, extending a fruitful career in weightlifting that Cara started almost 30 years ago. WW: Tell me about your first experience in sports and in weightlifting. CHS: “I was born in California and I participated in a several competitive sports in school including track and field as a thrower and basketball.  Because of the training that goes in athletics, lifting weights came almost naturally and I started to get good at it.” WW: What really got you into weightlifting? CHS: “Early in my weightlifting career I earned a spot on the USA Junior National team that competed at the 1997 Junior World Championships in Cape Town, where I won a bronze medal. That experience got me so motivated that I decided to compete in weightlifting full-time.” WW: Can you mention any other important competition experience in your career? CHS: “My most memorable performances were winning the silver medal at the 1999 Pan American Games and finishing just off the podium at the 1998 World Championships in Lahti, Finland due to bodyweight. And of course, being a member of the USA Olympic Team at the 2000 Sydney Games was certainly a high point in my career as I am sure it was for all of us who had the honor to participate in the first women’s weightlifting event at the Olympic Games.” WW: Which teammates do you remember from those days? CHS: “I competed many times on USA National teams that included three-time Olympian and medalist Cheryl Haworth, world champion Robin (Byrd) Goad, Olympic Champion Tara (Knot) Cunningham, and Junior World Champion Oscar Chaplin III.”  WW: What are you doing right now, anything besides weightlifting? CHS: “During my years as an athlete, I earned a bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Sociology.  Today, I’m the Founder and Owner of CH Fitness and Performance and Head Coach of its weightlifting club, CHFP Weightlifting. CH Fitness and Performance has over 100 members and CHFP Weightlifting has over 40 competitive athletes of all ages, from Youth to Masters. Aside from my business, I was honored to be selected among the first group of international women coaches certified as IWF Coach Course Instructors and I am currently participating the International Coach Enrichment Certificate Program sponsored by the IOC and the Olympic Solidarity Commission.” WW: What are you doing here in Guayaquil? CHS: “I am here as coach of Team USA member Avery Owens who just became Youth Pan Am Champion in the 81kg category.” WW: What is your impression of the sport of weightlifting that you have seen throughout your career? CHS: “The sport of weightlifting is more popular today than ever before in its history, for certain in the United States. Internationally, I am pleased to see an increasing number of women participate in leadership positions as international coaches, officials, administrators and leaders in general. It’s both exciting and inspiring.” At the end of this interview I was amazed to notice that although Cara Heads Slaughter was leaving the competition arena, the place stayed strangely illuminated as if her bright smile was there to

Samoa’s golden athletes recognised, including weightlifter Don Opeloge

Weightlifter, Don Opeloge, 20, had six thousand extra reasons to smile more than a month after he already covered himself in Pacific Games glory with three weightlifting gold medals. On Saturday morning, he was presented with a cheque for $6,000 alongside 45 other gold medal-winning athletes and ten coaches as a gift from the Government in recognition for their achievements. "This money for my family, especially my parents," Opeloge said. "Going forward, this is just the beginning, we won’t stop here, especially now with prizes from the Government, I will be trying even more and pushing my limits in order to do better and develop further in the sport." Following an opening prayer by Reverend Numereta Opetaia, the Minister of Education, Sports and Culture (M.E.S.C.), Loau Keneti Sio, gave a keynote address saying the prize money should be taken as a challenge from the Government for those athletes who did not quite reach the top of the podium. "This day is special for those who represented Samoa, hence the aim of today, for our government to reward those who were successful, this is what today is all about," he said. "As you can see, this is not the full number of our Samoa team who competed, but you are the representatives. "Our government foundations [on these matters] aren’t new, whoever wins gold medals represent everyone else, including those who won silver and bronze." More than 500 athletes represented Samoa in the XVI Pacific Games in July. They won a total of 38 gold medals. Source: samoaobserver.ws

Atma Maharaj re-elected as Weightlifting Fiji President

Weightlifting Fiji held its Annual General Meeting on 31 August and elected its Executive Board Members for the next term. After delivering the 2019 Junior World Championships with a success beyond belief under his leadership, it comes at no surprise the Federation voted confidence again for Atma Maharaj and re-assured him in his position as the President of Weightlifting Fiji. [caption id="attachment_27807" align="aligncenter" width="450"] Atma Maharaj[/caption] Weightlifting Fiji shined through the JWC this June, defying all scepticism and despite not having experience in delivering a world-level event, they provided a highly enjoyable, well organized Championships. Five new members were elected to the Board: Josaia Tuinamata as Vice President, Sera Vakaloloma and Abigail Erikson as Members, Melaia Druwani as Assistant Secretary and Timothy Vakuruivalu as the Athletes Rep. Della Shaw-Elder, Secretary-General; Sikeli Tuinamuana, Treasurer; Henry Elder, Member and Chris Yee, Vice President were re-elected for their positions.  

Crowdfunding Success – URU put the IWF Workshop knowledge to good use

At the IWF Youth World Championships in Las Vegas, the IWF held a Crowdfunding Workshop for its Member Federations. The participants learned about what is Crowdfunding, how it works, its benefits and some examples. IWF was happy to be informed that Uruguay Weightlifting Federation put the information provided to good use and started its own Crowdfunding Project. They had a dream to improve their Training Center, which at the beginning was just an old, abandoned building, waiting to be transformed to the first and only Weightlifting Center owned by the Federation. Many years passed with little to none improvement due to funding problems. Crowdfunding was not their first idea to get money for the project, as it is not a very common thing in Uruguay. It wasn't an easy task to organize and make people believe in this project. However all the interested parties were invited to participate, and starting with a smaller circle (lifters, families) the project has begun. The first steps made by lifters and their families inspired the government and some sponsors to also contribute in this project. The Federation offered free weightlifting training for children as "Companies with Corporate Social Responsibility Program" as they only asked for some community service in exchange for their donation. After agreeing with some other partners too, they finally had enough money for the Training Center. In the new facility, up to 30 lifters can train at the same time, has a Doping Control room and a multipurpose room for educational purposes, where they soon held a course in the framework of the IWF Development Program. The priority objective was to be able to develop weightlifting and with the new training centre, lots of new lifters can take on the sport. The next stage of the project is to fully equip the training centre and to host regional events. The IWF encourages all Member Federations to consider Crowdfunding in order to develop