News

Indonesian man gets first ever gold medal

A surprise start at the 2007 Men`s and Women`s Junior Worlds. It used to be a "rule" that in the lightest categories for both men and women China would collect six gold medals.In Prague, however, Chinese weightlifters won only one gold medal. Nevertheless, some surprise results were born on the platform in exciting battles.In both the women`s 48kg and men`s 56kg competitions there was a tie in the first place, leaving the bodyweight to decide who is the winner. New world champions were crowned: in 48kg Sibel Ozkan, TUR - although she did not count as the number one favourite - stole the show (181kg). In the men's 56kg Eko Yuli Irawan's victory was not altogether unexpected (273kg). Irawan is credited with being the first ever lifter of Indonesia to capture the world title (two at once) among the men - including seniors and juniors.Genny Pagliaro of Italy defended her former title in snatch and in total she won her first silver.Results are

Junior World Championships set off in Prague

On Sunday, 10th June 2007, the Junior World Championships started in Prague. There is a large field in the entries - among the women 33 countries are represented by 110 competitors. The male field is composed by 196 athletes are coming from 52 nations. Three of these data mark new participation records. In the women, the highest number of countries in attendance so far was 32, and the top turnout consisted of 104. In the men`s competition also the number of nations is a new record, because the highest until now was 46. Six defenders of Junior world champion titles will be taking part. In the women: Genny Pagliaro, ITA, (48kg) winner of the snatch last year; as well as +75kg Karsiaryna Shkuratava, BLR, who collected all three gold medals in 2006. Among the men Sergey Petrosyan, RUS in 62kg already boasts a champion title in clean and jerk; 77kg Albanian Erkand Qerimaj is also expected to lift, who made a surprise win last year in 69kg; Andrei Aramnau, BLR holds the title in snatch; finally in 105kg Russian Igor Merkushov, who is the owner of all the three titles from last

Kurt Wegmann is 50th Member of the Hall of Fame

Milan Mihajlovic, son of the late Vladan Mihajlovic took over the Weightlifting Hall of Fame membership diploma and award for his father. Elected as a member for 1997, the year he died, Vladan Mihajlovic from Yougoslavia, General Secretary of the EWF wrote his name with golden letters into the book of weightlifting and was remembered especially for his statistical and historic research into the sport. Kurt Wegmann, renowned German referee, Technical Controller and jury member, made outstanding contributions to the sport of weightlifting by hosting Junior and Senior World Championships in his home city of Donaueschingen. He was a member of the IWF Technical Committee. He became the 50th Member of the Weightlifting Hall of

IWF meetings concluded in Prague

The IWF Committees and Executive Board concluded their meetings in Prague, with focus on the study of the modification of rules to be elaborated for the next edition of the Handbook 2009-2012. The General Congress with delegates from 57 countries is ongoing with reports on the preparation of future world

Preparatory visit in Lima

Visiting the Peruvian capital, the IWF representatives, Mr. Attila Ádámfi and Ms. Gabriella Bárány co-ordinated the preparations to the 10th Weightlifting University World Cup with the host Federation, the Peruvian NOC and University Sport Organisation. Competitions will run on 9-12 August 2007 - in the history of the World Cup since 1998 for the first time on the South-American continent.Visit the website for details, program, Entry Forms: www.perupesas.com The IWF representatives with Mr. José Quinones, President FDPLP and other Peruvian

London 2012 Sports Director’s visit at the IWF

"Now, 5 years before the Games, 69% of the venues are already existing or just need  to be upgraded for the Games. Weightlifting will be centrally located and held in a beautiful venue." Ms. Deborah (Debbie) Jevans, Sports Director of the London 2012 Olympic Games, said, during her short visit to Budapest, following the invitation of the IWF President, Dr. Tamás Aján. Prior to taking this key job at the London 2012 Olympic Organising Committee, Ms. Jevans had been a world-class tennis player and General Secretary of the International Tennis Federation. She thus has a comprehensive knowledge of International Sport, as well as excellent contacts to the Olympic Sport Federations. Born and living in London, she reports of an over 80% support of the British people to the Olympic Games, and says that the preparatory works are on target. "Together with you, we will make weightlifting an excellent event of the Games," the Sports Director assured her friends at the IWF. "Although I am expecting the IOC Co-ordination Commission's visit in just two weeks' time and so I am extremely busy, hiring staff, getting ready for the sports presentation, so I have no time for travelling to places or Federations, I had made a promise to my longtime friend and colleague Tamás Aján to visit him and the IWF and I wanted to fulfil it. Besides, we have a number of issues to discuss in view of the upcoming Games, so I squeezed this 'blitz visit' in my schedule." Ms. Jevans will return to Budapest for sure, a city she finds absolutely beautiful and