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Final Day at the Islamic Solidarity Games

The 5th day of the weightlifting competitions was packed with top level athletes including World and Olympic Champions breaking Games Records. Uzbekistan shines on the final day winning 3 of the 5 categories in Total. Already in the first, Women’s 87kg category, 2022 Junior World Champion and 2021 World Championships Silver medallist Tursunoy Jabborova representing Uzbekistan grabbed the Gold medal with 235kg. 2021 African Champion Meukeugni Noumbissi Clementine from Cameroon won the Silver medal lifting 211kg, while the Bronze with 171kg went to Kanymzhan Almazbek Kyzy representing Kyrgyzstan. In the Men’s 102kg category 2021 World Champion Rasoul Motamedi Sedeh from Islamic Republic of Iran left no doubt about his desire for the Gold medal lifting 400kg and setting 3 new Games Record. Kazakh athlete Artyom Antropov, 2020 Asian Championships Bronze medallist lifter 386kg for the Silver medal and Bekdoolot Rasulbekov from Kyrgyzstan achieved Bronze with 385kg. Nobody could get even close to World and Olympic Champion Ruslan Nurudinov from Uzbekistan in the Men’s 109kg category lifting 417kg and 3 Games Records for the second Gold medal for Uzbekistan on the final day. Iranian athlete Peyman Jan achieved 382kg for the Silver medal and the Bronze went to his teammate Mehdi Karami with 380kg. World and Olympic Champion Akbar Djuraev from Uzbekistan moved up to +109kg in order to maximise the Gold medals for Uzbekistan successfully lifting 446kg, winning the 3rd Gold for Uzbekistan. Interesting to note the same difference of 35kg in front of the runner-up like his teammate in 109kg. Silver medal with 411kg went to 2022 Junior World Champion and 2018 Youth Olympic Champion Alireza Yousefi representing Islamic Republic of Iran, while the Bronze went to Hojamuhammet Toychyyev from Turkmenistan achieving the same result of 411kg. The last competition of the 5th Islamic Solidarity Games, Women’s +87 category was won by Asian Championships Bronze medallist Aizada Muptilda from Kazakhstan with 266kg. Her teammate, Lyubov Kovalchuk won the Silver medal with 261kg and Indonesian Nurul Akmal achieved the Bronze medal lifting

Day 4 at the Islamic Solidarity Games

A busy competition day included 5 categories, 2 Gold medals for host nation and further Games Records. Already in the first competition in Women’s 71kg, the 2020 Asian Championships Silver medallist, Gulnabat Kadyrova from Turkmenistan made a new Games Record in Snatch and Total and won the Gold medal with 225kg. Silver medal with 216kg and a Games Record in Clean&Jerk was achieved by Aysel Ozkan representing the host nation. Indonesian Restu Anggi won the Bronze medal with 210kg. 2021 World Championships Silver medallist Sarvarbek Zafarjonov representing Uzbekistan left no doubt about his performance winning the Gold medal with 366kg and breaking all 3 Games Record in the Men’s 89kg. Silver medal went to Emil Moldodosov from Kyrgyzstan with 354kg while the Bronze was achieved by Kazakh athlete Assylzhan Bektay with 353kg. In the Men’s 96kg category 2019 Asian Champion Reza Beiralvand from Islamic Republic of Iran lifted 361kg for the Gold medal. Sunnatilla Usarov representing Uzbekistan achieved Silver with 354kg in front of the 2019 Youth World Champion from Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Ali Alothman lifting 349kg. 2022 European Championships Bronze medallist Dilara Ucan from Turkey won the Gold medal with 220kg and broke the Games Record in Snatch. Kazakh athlete Aray Nurlybekova lifted 215kg for the Silver medal and 2021 African Champion from Cameroon, Eyenga Mbo`Ossi Jeanne Gaelle won the Bronze medal by lifting 214kg. 2022 Junior World Champion Dilara Narın won the 2nd Gold medal of the day for the host nation in Women’s 81kg with 229kg. Aisha Omarova from Kazakhstan achieved Silver medal with 226kg while Seyedehelham Hosseini representing Islamic Republic of Iran achieved Bronze by lifting 223kg. The last day of the weightlifting competitions at the Games will include further 2 women’s and 3 men’s

Day 3 at the Islamic Solidarity Games

The middle day of the 5 days long competition started with 2 men’s categories, M73kg and M81kg. Rizki Juniansyah from Indonesia, the 2021 and 2022 Junior World Champion won the Gold medal with 340kg, with an impressive 25kg lead in front of 2022 Junior World Championships Silver medallist, Alexey Churkin representing Kazakhstan. Bronze medal went to Abdulrahman Albeladi from Kingdom of Saudi Arabia lifting 296kg in Total. The men’s 81kg was not only the biggest category with 16 athletes but possible one of the strongest as well since only World Championship medallists stood on the podium. Mir Mostafa Javadi Aliabadi from Islamic Republic of Iran won the top of the podium with 364kg, who is also the 2021 World Championships Silver medallist. Indonesian Rahmat Erwin Abdullah achieved the Silver medal with 355kg who moved up from 73kg category where he is the 2021 World Champion. 2021 Junior World Champion Mukhammadkodir Toshtemirov representing Uzbekistan lifted 354kg for the Bronze medal. The only women’s category of the day (64kg) brought the Total Gold and Bronze medal for the host nation. Nuray Gungor, Silver medallist at the 2022 European Championships lifted 218kg for the Gold medal. Indonesian Tsabitha Alfiah Ramadhani won the Silver medal with 214kg. Bronze medal went to 2019 Junior European Champion, Berfin Altun from Turkey achieving

Day 2 at the Islamic Solidarity Games

Four bodyweight categories were organised on the second day of Weightlifting when spectators could also witness a Games Record! In the Women’s 55kg category Natasya Beteyob from Indonesia achieved the Gold medal with 195kg. The Silver medal went to Kristina Shermetova from Turkmenistan with 194kg, while the Bronze was won by Poupak Basami from Islamic Republic of Iran with 165kg. Women’s 59kg category was the second women's competition in 59kg where the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games Bronze medallist, Zulfiya Chinshanlo from Kazakhstan achieved the Gold medal with 220kg. Multiple African Champion, 2021 IWF World Championship Silver medallists and 2022 Commonwealth Games Gold medallist Adijat Adenike Olarinoye representing Nigeria won the Silver medal with 202kg. Nelly from Indonesia got the Bronze with 197kg. Men’s competition started with 61kg on the 2nd day where Ricko Saputra achieved the second Gold medal of the day for Indonesia with 291kg. 2021 IWF World Championships Bronze medallist Seraj Alsaleem from Kingdom of Saudi Arabia won Silver with 277kg and Bronze medal went to Otepbergen Aliyev from Kazakhstan with 271kg. The Men’s 67kg was confidently won by 2018 & 2019 Junior World Champion Ergashev Adkhamjon from Uzbekistan with 314kg, in front of his teammate and 2021 World Champion Doston Yokubov who achieved only 305kg. The Bronze medal was won by Yusuf Fehmi Genç from Turkey with 305kg who also broke Games Record in Clean & Jerk in front of the home

Turkey shine on day 1 of the Weightlifting at the Islamic Solidarity Games

The first day of the Weightlifting competition saw three (3) bodyweight categories held. In the women’s 45kg category Indonesia’s Siti Nafisatul Hariroh took Gold with 159kg followed by Turkey’s Cansu Bektas with 151kg total and the Azerbaijan’s Nazila Ismayilova 121kg total. In the women’s 49kg category, Turkey took the Gold and Silver medal through the result of Duygu Alıcı (172kg) and Saziye Erdogan (170kg). The Bronze medal was won by Yulduz Jumabayeva (Turkmenistan) with a total of 167kg In a close competition, the men’s 55kg category was won by Kazakhstan’s Arli Chontey with 253kg following by Saudi Arabia’s Mansour Alsaleem with 252kg. The bronze medal was won by Indonesia’s Satrio Adi Nugroho with 244kg total. The fifth edition of the Islamic Solidary Games was officially opened in Konya, Turkey on 9 August 2022 by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. More than 4000 athletes from 56 countries will participate across 27 sports. The men’s weightlifting competition comprises of 89 lifters from 21 nations while the women events see 59 athletes from 17 nations competing. Athletes representing 24 countries will compete at the Multisport event including all 10 women and 10 men bodyweight categories and fight for Medals in Snatch, Clean & Jerk and Total like at the IWF World Championships. The Start List can be accessed

IWF President lauds weightlifting competition at Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games

Photo: Dan Kent IWF President Mohamed Jalood has praised the outstanding weightlifting competitions at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games which showcased the sport’s athletic prowess, universality, thrilling entertainment and global appeal.The weightlifting competition took place between 30 July and 3 August and saw elite weightlifters compete across 16 weight categories – eight male and eight female.  A total of 178 weightlifters from 38 nations qualified via the Athlete Allocation System, including ex-refugee Olympic athlete Cyrille Tchatchet who competed for Team England. Of the  participating nations, 15 countries from all five Continents won medals reflecting the universality of the sport. In addition, eight weightlifters from four continents were selected as their country’s flagbearers at the Games’ Opening Ceremony including Home Nation, England’s Olympic Silver Medallist Emily Campbell.Birmingham 2022 implemented innovative sports presentation and fan engagement strategies to create an exceptional atmosphere which drew praise from many athletes. The competition also showcased the sport’s commitment to gender representation with a 50:50 gender split on technical officials.IWF President Jalood was in England to attend the weightlifting competition, alongside General Secretary Antonio Urso and seven other IWF Executive Board members.Speaking following the conclusion of the Games, President Jalood said:“The competitions at Birmingham 2022 were a great success and showcased the very best of our sport. Weightlifters from every continent won medals which demonstrates just how strong  weightlifting is around the world. At the IWF we are committed to ensuring that the sport continues to develop globally and provide our athletes with the opportunity to compete in fair and clean competitions.”   Among the weightlifters to grace the podium in Birmingham were: India’s Commonwealth Games defending champion and Olympic silver medallist Chanu Saikhom Mirabai who won gold in the women’s 49kg. Maude G Charron, defending Commonwealth Games champion and Tokyo 2020 gold medallist who won gold in the women’s 64kg. Australia’s defending Commonwealth Games Champion Eileen Cikamatana who claimed gold in the women’s 87kg. England’s Olympic silver medallist Emily Campbell who won gold in the women’s 87+kg. And, defending Commonwealth Games champion Aznil Bin Bidin Muhamad of Malaysia who retained his title in the men’s 61kg. Commonwealth Weightlifting Federation General Secretary Paul Coffa said:“Birmingham 2022 was an incredible advert for weightlifting in Commonwealth nations. The standard of competition was exceptional with many of the world’s best weightlifters taking part. Fans were treated to thrilling competitions and incredible athletic performances and with 15 different countries winning medals there was plenty to celebrate.”IWF Athletes’ Commission Chair Forrester Christopher Osei, who competed at Birmingham 2022, added:“There is no doubt that Birmingham 2022 was one of the best weightlifting competitions I, and many of the athletes I spoke to, have been a part of. The stage for competing was impressive and the way the audience was engaged created an unforgettable atmosphere. It is an exciting time for weightlifting and Birmingham 2022 reinforced that there are creative ways we can enhance the sport and better connect the athletes and fans.”The full weightlifting results from Birmingham 2022 can be accessed here.Weightlifting was first added to the Commonwealth Games programme in 1950 and has featured as a medal sport at every Games