Mohsin breaks world record at Almaty 2015

The Almaty 2015 IPC Powerlifting Asian Open Championships will run until 30 July and feature more than 220 athletes from 32 countries in one of the biggest Asian Championships ever.

Iraqi Beijing 2008 silver medallist Rasool Mohsin headlined the second day of competition at the 2015 IPC Powerlifting Asian Open Championships on Monday (27 July), breaking the men’s up to 72kg world record twice in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

Mohsin eased into competition at the Baluan Sholak Sports Palace with a 212kg first lift, before adding 2kg to the world best in the second round with 222kg. Buoyed by his form, the 27-year-old then secured victory with a 225kg third attempt.

Iranian Nader Moradi (213kg) settled for silver, initially taking a 1kg lead over Mohsin after the first round. However, Moradi struggled for performance in the later rounds and did not clear another lift.

Jordan’s Abdelkareem Mohammad Khattab (205kg) completed the podium with bronze.

China’s Shanshan Shi was in stunning form in the women’s up to 50kg, adding an incredible 17kg onto the Asian record.

Shi, who moved down a weight category since winning silver at the 2014 World Championships, initially smashed the mark with a first lift of 106kg.

The 27-year-old then went onto post a 110kg second lift, wiping out the original 93kg record of Thailand’s Wandi Kongmuang.

Thailand’s Thi Linh Phuong Dang also bettered the former record with a 94kg best to claim silver. Great Britain’s Natalie Blake (91kg) takes the Open bronze whilst there was delight for the home crowds with Asian bronze for Gulbanu Abdykhalykova (86kg).

Nigeria’s Olumide Kehinde executed a shock victory over China’s world and Paralympic champion Lei Liu in the men’s up to 65kg.

Kehinde expertly built towards the 213kg African record lift with three successful attempts, whilst Liu could not improve on his first round push of 200kg.

Liu’s teammate Xuefeng Lu (185kg) claimed the silver and Open bronze ahead of Azerbaijan’s Ahmad Razm Azar (166kg), who completed the Asian podium.

Iranian Amir Jafari Arangeh (192kg) improved on his own Asian record in the men’s up to 59kg, adding 4kg onto the regional best. In what was a masterclass from the 2013 Asians silver medallist, Jafari registered three good lifts to beat China’s Quanxi Yang (181kg).

Russian Ildar Bedderdinov (178kg) claimed the Open bronze, with Jordanian Mohammad Tarbash (176kg) completing the Asian podium.

At the end of day two, China lead the medals table with six podiums including three golds. Nigeria are second with two gold and two silver medals and Vietnam third with one gold and two silvers.

The Almaty 2015 IPC Powerlifting Asian Open Championships will run until 30 July and feature more than 220 athletes from 32 countries in one of the biggest Asian Championships ever.

Live results and coverage are available at the event website and updates and news published at IPC Powerlifting Facebook and Powerlifting Twitter.

Following Almaty 2015, powerlifters will head to the IPC Powerlifting European Open Championships in Eger, Hungary, from 24-28 November.