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Incredible finish to Kazan Universiade with world-class lifting

Nothing could have better symbolized the level of weightlifting at the Kazan 2013 Summer Universiade than the last attempt in the +105kg category. Already holding the silver medal in his hands but still ambitious to take the gold away from Russia's stupefying champion Ruslan ALBEGOV, young Iranian Bahador MOULAEI needed to lift 10kg more than the best previous clean and jerk of both of them (254kg). That happened to be exactly 264kg: one kilo more than Rezazadeh's famed world record alive since 2004. This last attempt failed though, it was still a worthy ending to the superheavyweight event of an incredibly high standard. In fact, the whole weightlifting event of 6 days was studded by top-class performances and records. A total of 137 new Universiade records were established = about 80% of all the Universiade records set so far in Kazan, in all sports. Great thanks and congratulations to the organisers and to FISU on a wonderful weightlifting event. Also thanks to the IWF Technical Officials for their professional contribution to this success. (From Anikó Németh-Móra, FISU Weightlifting Technical Delegate -

Uzbek Champion wins gold ahead of Russian favourites

In the 105kg it was Uzbekistan's Ruslan NURUDINOV who had to face the challenge of two Russians, one of them being the "local boy". From the facedown between the Asian champion Uzbek, the European champion, David BEDZHANYAN and the defending Universiade champion from Kazan Andrey DEMANOV, finally NURUDINOV walked away with the gold medal (412kg) and the two Russians could keep only the silver and the bronze medals at home. DEMANOV was second with 406kg and BEDZHANYAN became third with 402kg. Needless to say that these men rewrote the whole list of Universiade records - more than once - in the course of the competition.

Ivanov takes 94kg title

In spite of an aching back, the home favourite Olympic silver medallist Alexandr IVANOV easily took the gold in the 94kg category upsetting all the three previous Universiade records (181kg, 214kg 395kg). Kazakhstan's Alexandr ZAICHIKOV confidently won the silver medal with 375kg. The real fight went on between Lithuanian Zygimantas STANULIS and US lifter Kendrick FARRIS. The final 211kg in Clean and Jerk eventually gave the bronze medal to the American on

An All-Russian Day at the Universiade

The Russians left nothing to chance on the 5th competition day in weightlifting at the Kazan Universiade. They sent doubled forces to the Men's 85kg and the Women's 75kg categories and in the Women's +75kg they launched their invincible champion, Tatiana KASHIRINA. Duly enough, they pocketed all the gold and - where available - the silver medals, however, not always in the expected order. In the Men's 85kg Junior Artem OKULOV fought for the ultimate glory with compatriot Olympic hero Apti AUKHADOV; a duel that ended with OKULOV's victory and the Olympic silver medallist taking up the runner-up position again, In the Women's 75kg former world champion Nadezda EVSTYUKHINA started confidently with a new Snatch Universiade record, but Olga ZUBOVA in the Clean and Jerk went over limits and accomplished the unexpected feat of beating the star by one kilo on the Total (279 to 278kg). It was pleasant to see the Canadian flag being hoisted to salute the bronze medallist: Marie-Eve BEAUCHEMIN-NADEAU. The women's heaviest category was then duly swept by the indominable Tatiana KASHIRINA who came out to lift when everyone else had finished. With no visible effort she totalled 319kg winning on silver medallist Chitchanok PULSABSAKUL from Thailand and Korean LEE Huisol who took the bronze medal. Both the men and the ladies left no stone unturned yesterday, I mean no Universiade record from Shenzhen survived their attacks. (Report by A.N.M., photos by Maxim Agapitov)

Oceania Senior, Junior and Youth Championships and Australian Senior & Junior Championships Live Webcast

Over 300 lifters will be competing over the next four days in Brisbane at the Oceania Senior, Junior and Youth Championships in conjunction with the Australian Senior & Junior Championships. Live webcast is available here:

Oceania Congress in Brisbane

The Oceania Congress was held in Brisbane, Australia on 10 July 2013. Seventeen countries were in attendance. During the Congress a Life Membership was awarded to Mr. Bruce Cameron from New Zealand. Mr. Cameron was Vice President of the Oceania Weightlifting Federation since 1980, when Dr. Tamas Ajan first established the OWF, until 1983. He then served as General Secretary of the OWF from 1983 until 1992. During the Congress the OTIP program (in its second year) was launched being a very successful development program of the OWF/ IWF, supported by the IWF and ONOC. The countries had waited with anticipation for this program which was very well