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Mirabai lifts personal best but misses bronze at the Asian Championships

The 24-year-old Mirabai lifted 86kg in snatch and a personal best of 113kg in clean and jerk for a total of 199kg in the women's 49kg event to finish on the fourth position. Former world champion Mirabai Chanu produced her personal best but missed out on the podium by a whisker, while Youth Olympics gold medallist Jeremy Lalrinnunga went on a record-smashing spree at the Asian Weightlifting Championship on Sunday. The 24-year-old Mirabai lifted 86kg in snatch and a personal best of 113kg in clean and jerk for a total of 199kg in the women's 49kg event to finish on the fourth position. Her earlier personal best total in 49kg was 192kg in the EGAT Cup in Thailand in February. In a remarkable performance, 16-year-old Jeremy secured second place in group B of the 67Kg men's event. During his record-smashing spree, he claimed three world marks. Earlier in the day, Jhili Dalabehera opened India's medal account, claiming a silver medal in the women's 45kg category. However, 45kg is not an Olympic weight category. The points gathered from this event will come in handy when the final rankings for 2020 Tokyo Olympics are made next year. Unfortunately, Mirabai missed the bronze as China's Zhang Rong with the same total of 199kg (88kg+111kg) finished third under new rules, which came into effect in 2017. Under these rules, the competitor who has a lower clean and jerk result (that means higher snatch result) will be ranked higher in the classification of athletes for total lift. The gold medal went to Hou Zhihui of China who produced an effort of 208kg (92kg+116kg) while North Korea's Ri Song-gum clinched the silver, lifting 200kg (86kg+114kg) in the gold level Olympic qualifier. After clearing 86kg in her snatch, Mirabai began her clean and jerk with a 109kg and then lifted 113kg successfully. But in her third attempt, the Manipuri could not lift 115kg and that cost her dear. Had she been successful in her attempt to lift 115kg, she would have won silver with a total of 201kg. This was Mirabai's second international competition in this category after the International Weightlifting Federation re-jigged the weight categories last year. She was earlier competing in 48kg. She had missed the World Championships last year, a gold level Olympic qualifier, owing to a back injury which had also forced her out of the Asian Games in Jakarta. Mirabai returned to action in February, clinching the gold medal in 49kg at the EGAT Cup in Thailand, which was the first of the six Olympic qualifying events for her. Jeremy gave a power-packed performance, smashing the Youth World and Asian records in snatch, clean and jerk and total lift with an effort of 297kg (134kg+163kg) to be placed second in his group behind Pakistan's Talha Talib, who lifted 304kg (140kg+164kg). The final standings for the men's 67kg event will be known after group A competition on Monday. Jeremy, in fact, broke 15 records in total, combining national and international marks. He smashed six international records -- three youth world and three youth Asian -- and nine national records -- three youth national, three junior national and three senior national. The Mizoram weightlifter pulled off clean lifts in two of his three attempts in snatch (130kg, 134kg) to set a new youth world record. The earlier youth world record was also in Jeremy's name when he had lifted 131kg in the EGAT Cup in Thailand in February. Jeremy then lifted more than double his body weight (157kg, 163kg) in two successful attempts in the clean and jerk, and in the process obliterated Kazakhstan weightlifter Saikhan Taisuyev's youth world record of 161kg. It was Jeremy's personal best and 9kg more than his 288kg youth world record effort in the EGAT cup, where he won the silver medal.

New World Records were set on the European Championships in Batumi

In addition to several continentals, world records were also set in Batumi at the European Championship held 6-13 April. The championship was held in the beautiful city of Batumi at the Black Sea, the capital of the Adjara region and Georgia's second-largest city. Once again, the Georgians did not disappoint. After delivering many successful Championships and important events such as a Lifter of the Year Award Gala in the past, the 2019 European Championships was organized in the most professional way under the leadership of Kakhi Kakhiashvili, President of the Weightlifting Federation of Georgia. In Europe, this was the first Gold Level Qualification event where the new 10-10 bodyweight categories debuted. World Records were set both in the men’s and women’s superheavyweight categories. Russian KASHIRINA Tatiana bested her own World Records in the Snatch (146kg) and Total in the women’s +87 bodyweight category. She added one kilogram to her previous record set in Ashgabat last November, which is now 331kg. Home favourite TALAKHADZE Lasha smashed three of his own World Records, setting the new bars at 218kg in the Snatch, 260kg in the Clean and Jerk and 478kg Total, which is a 4kg improvement compared to his previous best. Twenty-one countries shared all the medals and nations who had little success before surfaced. Israel won it’s first women’s medal in a major Championship (bronze), Italy won golds, Britain pocketed silvers and bronzes. Georgia topped the men’s team classification board with 639 points followed by closely followed by Belarus (634) and Armenia with 596 points. At the women, Russia (736), Turkey (575) and Romania (480) took the first three places and Britain did well too, ending up

IWF announces Rogue Fitness as Second-Tier Supplier

IWF announced a new partnership with Rogue Fitness, a leading American-based barbell and sports equipment manufacturer. Rogue Fitness has become a second-tier sports equipment supplier — a new level of partnership for the IWF. The partnership does not impact the long-term cooperation the IWF has with its five first-tier suppliers. As a second-tier supplier, Rogue Fitness can provide weightlifting equipment for the IWF Bronze Level Qualification Events and Other Events. William Henniger, representative of Rogue Fitness, who made his first presentation at the IWF Congress in Las Vegas said: "From the very beginning, Rogue’s goal has been to manufacture equipment that would meet the standard of the world’s finest strength athletes and organizations. Becoming an IWF certified equipment supplier is a great testament to those efforts, and we are honoured by the recognition. In the strength world, this is the equivalent of a restaurant getting its Michelin stars. This is also a tremendous motivator for the Rogue team to continue innovating and to stay on the cutting edge of the sport.” Dr. Tamás Aján, President of IWF said: "The IWF is very happy to partner with Rogue Fitness. This new level of partnership provides additional possibilities for the organizers hosting events in the IWF event portfolio which has recently been extended by the new qualification

Legends Live On – Mathias Steiner

The legacy of German weightlifter Matthias Steiner, whose emotional gold medal win in 2008 inspired a career of promoting a healthy and active lifestyle, is featured in an all new episode of the Olympic Channel original series Legends Live On. Beyond the spotlight of the Olympic Games where legends are made, the legacy of Olympians live on. In Legends Live On, Olympic heroes show how they are translating their success into careers and inspiring future generations. Steiner is best known for his emotional gold medal win at the Olympic Games Beijing 2008 which came as a bittersweet victory following the tragic death of his wife just one year earlier. Digging deep within to deliver on a promise he had made to his late wife that he would one day win an Olympic medal, Steiner had just one try left to attempt his heaviest lift ever at 258kg. “There was nothing else in life, nothing more important. I was a free man right there and then - the happiest man in the world, especially then,” said Steiner upon reflecting on his winning lift in Beijing. Following his retirement from competitive weightlifting in 2013, Steiner, who was diagnosed with diabetes at age 18, realised that living at a bodyweight of 150kg was not sustainable and embarked on a weight loss journey where he lost 45kg. Today, Steiner is an author, motivational speaker and advocate for diabetes education and a healthy lifestyle helping others to lead happier and healthy lives. “I'm in my 30s, and in great shape! I'm a fitness and nutrition coach, a singer and, quite simply, a happy dad.” Watch the video on the Olympic Channels

PUBLIC DISCLOSURE

IWF reports that the sample of Mr. Rustam DJANGABAEV (UZB) has returned an Adverse Analytical Finding for Growth Hormone (hGH) (S2. Peptide Hormones, Growth Factors, Related Substances and Mimetics). As a consequence, the Athlete is provisionally suspended in view of a potential anti-doping rule violation. In any case where it is determined that the Athlete did not commit an anti-doping rule violation, the relevant decision will also be published. IWF will not make any further comments on the case until it is

European Championships started in Batumi, GEO

325 athletes from 41 countries started to compete in Batumi, Georgia at the 2019 European Championships this weekend, which is the only Gold Level Qualification Event organised in the first qualification period in Europe. You can download the Start List HERE... Spectators and TV audience can see a novelty set up of the Warm-up area and a unique backdrop symbolising the mountains of the Kaukasus as innovative elements the Organising Committee, lead by Kakhi Kakhiasvilis and David Khipsidze applied for this year's Continental Championships. On the day before the competitions, the EWF Congress was held where the EWF's 50th Anniversary was celebrated. Mohamed Jaloud, General Secretary and Attila Adamfi, Director General presented the IWF's commemorative plaquette to EWF on behalf of Dr. Tamas Ajan, one of the founders of the EWF. Competitions and results can be followed