AUS team top men’s competition at Asian Cup in Classic Powerlifting

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

The American University of Sharjah (AUS) topped the men’s category competitions at the first Asian Cup in Classic Powerlifting.

The first Asian Cup in Classic Powerlifting is being hosted by the University of Sharjah in association with the Emirates Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation and held under the patronage of Sheikh Sultan Bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah and President of the University of Sharjah.

The competition concluded with the men's events, and the American University of Sharjah's team secured 39 points to take the top spot, followed by the University of Diyala from Iraq in second place with 37 points. Islamic Azad University from Iran took third place with 28 points, while Middlesex University Dubai secured fourth place with 26 points. The University of Sharjah finished in fifth place with 23 points out of the 48 participating universities.

Captain Salem Hassan, coach of the American University of Sharjah's powerlifting team, attributed their achievement to the university community. He affirmed that this victory is a continuation of the team's success in the recent UAE University Championships and expressed his aspirations for the team to participate in the world championship in the future. He praised the support and guidance of Graeme Dobie, Director of Student Athletics and Recreational Activities at the AUS, for contributing to their success.

Salah Al Ameri, the director of the Asian Cup in Classic Powerlifting, described the exceptional performances delivered by the athletes as reflecting the development witnessed by the sport at the university level across Asia.

He noted that these performances showcased the evident progress the sport is undergoing within the Asian university community. Ameri highlighted the significant support provided by the University of Sharjah, which amplified the efforts of the organizing committee. He also mentioned that the early preparations contributed to achieving the highest levels of success. Ameri revealed that the championship introduced promising new talents who will play a major role in the future, including exceptional players with the potential to join national teams.

Middlesex University Dubai's Foulath Emran secured the men’s championship title after overcoming his rivals. On the third day of competition, Emran clinched first place in the under-105 kg weight category. Mustafa Al Tarfi from the University of Babylon in Iraq won first place in the under 120 kg weight category. Mohammad Gholi Zadeh from Azad University in Iran claimed first place in the open weight category.