Kitakyushu 2018: Another world record falls

Chinese powerlifters continue to dominate the Asia-Oceania Open Championships in Kitakyushu, Japan. Ye Jixiong broke the world record in the men´s up to 88kg on 11 September. Han Miaoyu and Xu Lili also added two more golds to China’s haul in the women’s up to 73kg and 79kg respectively.

Men’s up to 88kg

It was a special competition for two reasons.

One of them is because 25-year-old Jixiong broke the world record. He first set a new Asian record after lifting 232.5kg in the third round.

Boosted by this achievement, the 2017 world champion then went for more. In his fourth attempt, he cleared the bar at 233.5kg, breaking the world record of 233kg set by Egyptian Hany Abdelhady in 2016.

But the men’s up to 88kg was also memorable because Japan won their first senior medal at their home Asian-Oceanians. Hideki Odo claimed bronze thanks to a 195kg lift in the last round.

Japan had already won gold in Kitakyushu but in a junior event as 15-year-old Karin Morisaki topped the podium in the women’s up to 67kg.

Odo said: “It means a lot to win this first senior medal for Japan at Kitakyushu 2018. It is also my first time competing at an international event in my country. I am satisfied with my performance but believe I can lift even more.”

Jordan’s Abdelkareem Khattab (215kg) completed the podium by securing silver.

Women’s up to 79kg

Reigning world champion Lili started with a 132kg lift to ensure the leading position for the rest of the competition. She then progressed to 136kg and 139kg.

She then tried to break the world record, but failed to lift 140kg.

Indonesia’s Siti Mahmudah (115kg) ended second and Chinese Taipei’s two-time Paralympic champion Lin Tzu-Hui (108kg) third.

Women’s up to 73kg

China’s third gold medal of the day and 12th in the competition was sealed by Han. The Mexico City 2017 silver medallist lifted 122kg in the second round to finish top of the podium.

She then tried to break the Asian record of 130kg twice but failed to do so.

Indonesia’s Nurtani Purba (100kg) claimed silver and UAE’s Haifa Naqbi (100kg) bronze due to a lower body weight (10.84 against 72.26).

Men’s up to 97kg

Seyedhamed Solhipouravanji gave Iran the first senior title in Kitakyushu after a 231kg lift. Unfortunately he decided not to go for the Asian record of 233kg set by China´s Qi Dong at Rio 2016.

United Arab Emirates’ Mohammed Khalaf (230kg) ended second and China’s Panpan Yan (216kg) third.

Competition finishes on Wednesday (12 September) with the men’s up to and over 107kg, and the women’s up to and over 86kg.

Kitakyushu 2018 is being shown live on World Para Powerlifting’s website and Facebook page.

Full results are available on the Kitakyushu 2018 website.