Iran Celebrates Afro-Asian Weightlifting Title

Secretary of Iran's Weightlifting Federation, Darab Riahi, said China, India, and Nigeria finished runner-up to fourth respectively.

Iran had eight representatives in the 77, 85, 95, 105, +105kg categories of the competitions.

Twelve countries including Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, India, Iran, Afghanistan, Nigeria, Algeria, Uganda, Libya, Zambia, and Indonesia have participated in the weightlifting meet of the Afro-Asian competitions.

The IWF President Ali Moradi, who is the secretary general of the Asian Weightlifting Confederation, and Riahi accompanied the team.

Iran's 77kg weightlifter Mahmoud Esmaeilzadeh ranked fourth on the first day (Monday) of the event.

With a total weight of 297.5kg, Esmaeilzadeh followed the weightlifters of Nigeria, India, Libya, who stood first to third respectively.

The Iranian lifted 130kg and 167.5kg in his snatch and clean-and-jerk efforts.

Nigeria won the glittering gold with a total weight of 322kg, India took the silver with 322kg, and Libya won the bronze with 302.5kg.

Indian weightlifter Satis Aran finished second due to his 300-gram excess weight.

On Tuesday, Iran's representative in 85kg, Behrouz Qorbani, grabbed the silver medal.

The Iranian lifted 157.5kg and 185kg in snatch and clean and jerk.

A Nigerian weightlifter snatched the coveted gold with a total weight of 345kg -- 150kg and 195kg -- and the bronze went to a Kazakh, who totally kept 335kg (145kg and 190kg) above his head.

Javad Nader, also an Iranian, finished fourth as he lifted 147.5 kg and 175kg -- totally 322.5kg.

On Wednesday, Iran snatched the gold and silver medals of 94kg class.

Ali Dehqanian bagged the coveted gold with a total weight of 332.5kg. He lifted 142.5kg and 190kg in snatch and clean and jerk.

Omid Naeij added a silver to Iran's asset by keeping 150kg and 180kg in his snatch and clean-and-jerk efforts.

A Kazakh weightlifter took the bronze.

On Thursday, Abdolreza Fouladivanda took 105kg bronze medal for Iran with a total of 342.5kg.

The Iranian was announced the bronze winner as he weighed a little more than his Kazakh rival Dimitry Nomofilov.

Kyo Won-Huan from China won the gold medal by lifting 365kg totally.

Iran Friday snatched the gold and silver medals of +105kg category.

Mohammad Salehi lifted 165 and 207.5kg in snatch and clean and jerk -- totally 372.5kg -- to hand Iran the glittering gold and his teammate Rashid Sharifi finished runner-up with a total weight of 370 kg as he kept 170 and 200kg above his head.

A Nigerian took the bronze, lifting 150 and 210kg.

KK/IS

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MNA