Weightlifting star Fares Ibrahim yesterday lived up to his top billing as he muscled his way to clinch the 102kg competition in commanding fashion at the Qatar Cup IWF Grand Prix II.
Fares, an Olympic gold medallist and a world champion, clinched the feature event with two gold medals and a bronze as he beat China’s Huanhua Liu and Armenia’s Garik Karapetyan to the top spot at Aspire Zone. The 25-year-old managed an overall lift of 400kg (176kg snatch and 224kg clean & jerk) to deliver another dominating performance at the top level of the sport.
China’s Liu tallied an overall lift of 398kg (176kg snatch and 222kg clean & jerk). Armenia’s Karapetyan finished third with 391kg (180kg and 211kg).
“Two gold medals and one bronze, I am thrilled with my performance,” Fares said after the medals ceremony. “I dedicate this win to HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani, President of the Qatar Olympic Committee, and HE Mohamed Yousef al-Mana, Vice-President of the Qatar Olympic Committee and President of the Qatar and Arab weightlifting federations,” Fares said.
“It was a strong competition with the participation of world and Olympic champions. I am returning from an injury, but the support of the Qatar Olympic Committee and our president Mohamed Yousef al-Mana, I was able to defy the injury and the odds to fly the Qatari flag high.
“I would also like to thank the large audience who attended the tournament and encouraged me. This had a positive impact on me and their support proved to be a source of great motivation to win the three medals,” he added. “Yes, I am looking forward to achieving a world record in the 2024 Paris Olympics, God willing,” he said with a smile.
Besides Youssef al-Mana, Nayef Saleh al-Bakri, Yemen’s Minister of Youth and Sports, and Khaled al-Khulaifi, First Vice-President of the Yemeni Olympic Committee, also participated in the medal distributing ceremony.
Youssef al-Mana dedicated the performance of Fares yesterday to His Highness the Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani.
“We extend our thanks to the Qatar Olympic Committee, headed by HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani, for the continuous support it provides to our athletes so that Qatar achieves such feats at top international and regional sports events,” al-Mana said.
“Fares participated in a new weight class of 102kg despite the fact that he has always participated in the 96kg competition. His performance is commendable since he participated in the current championship despite still in the process of recovering from injury,” al-Mana said yesterday. “l wish Fares all success in weightlifting events in the coming weeks and months.”
In the women’s, China’s Xiaomei Liang won the gold with an overall tally 284kg (123kg snatch and 161kg clean & jerk). Liang’s compatriot Zhouyu Wang was second-best with a tally of 268kg (120kg and 148kg). Australia’s
Eileen Floanna Maria Cikamatana was third with a figure of 261kg (112kgand 149kg).
Fares Ibrahim celebrates with his medals at Aspire Zone yesterday.
Qatar weightlifter Fares Ibrahim in action on day nine of the Qatar Cup IWF Grand Prix II.
