Para Powerlifters Atop World Championships

Iran’s squad came in first at the men’s World Para Powerlifting Championships in Mexico City, December 2-8.

The Iran para powerlifters finished with a total of nine medals (three gold, four silver and one bronze) to emerge at the top, Varzesh3.com reported.

Competing in the +107kg class, Siamand Rahman hit 261kg in his first attempt. In the second and third attempts, Rahman lifted 275kg and 285kg respectively to win the gold on December 7. However, he did not come near his own world record.

“Why do I have to break the world record every time I compete?” he said when asked about the reasons why he did not break it again. “I cannot do it every time. I am happy for the title and want to dedicate it to my family, friends and the Iranian people.”

Rahman holds the record for Senior and Junior Para Powerlifting with 310kg and 290kg respectively. He won gold in the 2012 London Paralympics in which he set a new Paralympics record by lifting 280kg.

He also won gold at the 2016 Rio Paralympics by handling for 310kg and setting a new world record.

Winning gold in the 2010 and 2014 Asian Para Games in Guangzhou and Incheon as well as the Dubai 2014 Powerlifting World Championships and 2016 Powerlifting World Cup in Kuala Lumpur are among  his other achievements.

Also in the +107kg category, Mansour Pourmirzaei won silver after Rahman by lifting the 241kg barrel.

Previously, Majid Farzin of up-to-80kg category took gold when he lifted 227kg.

Silver medal at the 2008 Beijing Paralympics, gold in the 2012 and 2016 Paralympics in London and Rio were won by Farzin earlier. During the Rio games he set the world record for 240kg. The record still stands.

Para powerlifter of up-to-88kg, Seyyed Hamed Solhipour was another silver winner in the Iran squad. By lifting 210kg, Solhipour came second in his category.

Nader Moradi and Rohallah Rostami won gold and silver in the up-to-72kg category. Moradi lifted 209kg and Rostami 208kg.

On December 4, competing in the 59kg category, Amir Jafari-Arangeh won the silver medal with 187kg and Yousef Yousefi took bronze after lifting 182kg.

An estimated 1,200 athletes, officials and staff from 89 countries took part in the event.