News

After Four golds at Worlds, Russia expects at Olympics

Russia's weightlifters have set the bar high for the London Olympics after four gold medals at recent World Championships held in Paris, the Federation President said. The Russian team came second to China (6) in the gold medal count, with victories for Svetlana Tsarukaeva in the 63kg; Oksana Slivenko in the 69kg; Nadezhda Evstyukhina in the 75kg; Khadhzimurat Akkaev in the 105kg.The results, Russia's best since the Soviet fall in 1992, guaranteed a maximum representation of six men and four women at the London Games next year. "Our team fulfilled its task 100 percent," said Sergei Syrtsov, President of the Russian Weightlifting Federation. "They confirmed that they are one of the leaders in weightlifting." "The World Championships aren't the final straight, but just a stage where we showed we are Olympic medal contenders," he added. Source:

Fifth IF Forum in Lausanne

The fifth edition of the annual IF Forum took place in Lausanne November 14-16, 2011, and once again offered representatives from International Federations an opportunity to discuss important current issues and share ideas about best management practices, through a series of workshops, case studies and discussion groups. This year's event focused on Sport and the City and Building an Effective Federation, and will also featured an exclusive Media Seminar to provide on-camera training for Federation members. The IWF was also represented. The IF Forum was organised by SportAccord Convention in conjunction with SportAccord, ASOIF and AIOWF, and with the support of the City of Lausanne/Canton of

Matin living weightlifting dream through daughter Elyone

Sabahan Matin Guntali's career in weightlifting came to a painful end after he dislocated his right shoulder last year but he continues to live the dream through daughter Elyone. His eldest daughter has not only made it to the national back-up squad but will be making her debut in the SEA Games weightlifting competition in Palembang.Elyone competes in the women's 58kg category together with Franceay Titus. And proud dad, who is now attached to the national back-up team, will be there as one of the three coaches alongside Hidayat Hamidon and Lin Xin Hui. "I'm proud that my daughter is following my path. I never forced my children to take up weightlifting, Elyone just gravitated to it, said 44-year-old Guntali, a five-time Commonwealth Games medallist in the men's below 56kg category. Elyone, 21, has been involved in weightlifting since she was nine and attributed her interest in the sport to her father. "I wasn't really keen at first but when my younger sister Elyonica started going to the gym, I followed suit" said Elyone, who represented Johor at the Sukma (Malaysia Games). "Reading about dad in the newspapers each time he competed in major competitions got me hooked. It was just for fun at first to keep fit. But I slowly got into it in a big way with a lot of encouragement from my father." (By Lim Teik

SEA Games: Vietnam opened the gold rush

The weightlifting competition of the SEA Games was held from November 18-20 at the Dempo Sport Complex in Palembang, Indonesia. Despite many changes in personnel, Vietnamese weightlifters were targeting gold medals. The present team consisted of young and inexperienced members including Thach Kim Tuan, Tran Le Quoc Toan and Nguyen Thi Phuong Loan. The main national medal-winning hope, Hoang Anh Tuan, who pocketed a Beijing Olympics silver medal, was banned for doping at the National Sport Games last November.His female teammate Ngo Thi Hanh was also be absent from the Games for the same reason, while veterans Nguyen Thi Thiet, Ngo Thi Nga, Khuat Minh Hai and Nguyen Manh Thang have all retired. Vietnam had two candidates for the first gold of weightlifting competition of the SEA Games in 56 kg. Tuan and Toan were considered gold medal contenders.Kim Tuan snatched a gold medal at the Singapore Youth Olympics in October 2010. He also won three gold medals at the Asian Youth Weightlifting Championship in Thailand in September. His lift of 277kg set a new Youth World Record. In Paris Thach Kim Tuan failed to break into the top three despite promising training results. In the snatch event, managed 125kg and Indonesia brought him bronze in Total by 124 kg and 147 kg. The other, Toan, who is training in Bulgaria, was expected to return home fresh from his two-month course. Tran Le Quoc Toan successfully pocketed a bronze medal from the World Weightlifting Championships in Paris. He lifted 125kg in the Snatch and ranked third. The 22-year-old athlete lifted 150kg in the Clean and Jerk to achieve a fourth with a Total of 275kg, coming in just 1kg behind bronze medallist Hristov Valentine (AZE). After such a strong performance in his international debut Toan won the Sea Games, with 125kg in the Snatch, 155kg in the Clean and Jerk and 280kg in the Total.Kim Tuan and Toan were fighting against defending champion Jadi Setiadi from Indonesia. Setiadi lifted 274kg to win gold in Laos two years ago. Setiadi improved further 4kg, but his development helped him to reach the silver medal. Check out the results here: http://apps.seag2011.com/rs2011/bm/cm/schedule_type_3.aspx?sid=1&sname=Weightlifting&scode=wl&fid=5

Iranians gave a warm welcome to Behdad Salimi

Iran's national team finished the 2011 IWF World Weightlifting Championships in Paris with a historical result. By collecting five gold, two silver and four bronze medals, Iran could stand at the third place of this championships. Following the splendid success, senior politicians congratulated the victory and hundreds of weightlifting fans went to the airport to welcome the weightlifting team. Among the athletes, the world's strongest man Behdad Salimi received an amazingly warm welcome as he arrived in his hometown, a northern city of Ghaemshahr located by Caspian Sea. Thousands of people from Ghaemshahr gathered in the city center as Salimi arrived and welcomed him as a hero, and demonstrated their pleasure over Salimi's great success. By Sara

Chinese weightlifter Liao Hui is suspended

Further to the increased press queries in regard to the suspension of the Chinese weightlifter Liao Hui, Dr. Tamás Aján IWF President stated as follows: "Mr. Liao Hui is an emblematic figure of the international weightlifting field. He is one my favorite athletes not only due to his sport performance, but also due to his personal character. He had an exemplary and respectful conduct on all events he participated in. His disciplined behavior, courtesy and outstanding personality leaded him to be a role model for all. Mr. Liao Hui was under provisional suspension from 30th September 2010. This is when the athlete and his federation were informed of the out-of-competition test result done on the 2nd September prior to the IWF 2010 World Championships held in Antalya, Turkey. In case an athlete is found positive, all medals, results, and records achieved after the date of the Adverse Analytical Finding are withdrawn and cancelled. Tested in 2010, Mr. Liao Hui immediately requested the B sample. Following the result of the B sample, the appeal at the IWF Doping Hearing Panel was requested by the athlete. The IWF Doping Hearing Panel heard Mr. Liao Hui and took a decision in accordance with the IWF Anti-Doping Policy. They confirmed the result and imposed a suspension of 4 years on the athlete ending on 30th September 2014. I wish to ensure the weightlifting community that the IWF followed the strict procedure set out in the IWF Anti-Doping Policy in compliance with the applicable rules and the WADA Code. I feel personally sorry and I am looking forward to Mr. Liao Hui's return to the weightlifting