Jordan’s Khattab sets new record at World Powerlifting Championships
- 30 Aug 2023
Jordan’s Abdelkareem Khattab continued his world record breaking spree in Dubai as he improved his own world record by one kilo on his way to winning his second World Championships at the Hilton Dubai Al Habtoor city.
Khattab, the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic champion, put up a confident show on the bench to set a new mark in Dubai yet again, this time with 251 kg in the men’s up to 88 kg -- a category he had picked up his last Paralympic and World titles.
At the last World Cup in Dubai, Khattab broke the world record thrice in men’s up to 97 kg before taking the gold medal at 255 kg.
On Tuesday, Khattab started with 230 kg to finish with a new world record of 251 kg. He tried to improve it further in his fourth (Powerlift) but was unsuccessful.
“I am filled with immense joy on setting a new world record in the World Powerlifting Championship, which I consider to be one of my best shows, even surpassing the Paralympics,” said Khattab, who held the earlier world record from Tbilisi 2021 Worlds.
“I attribute all my success to my God. Whenever I achieve a new number, I write it on a board in front of my bench when I train, and I try to break it in the next championship,” he added.
The Jordanian star was followed by China’s Ye Jixiong and Egypt’s Mohamed Elelfat who finished on 234 kg and 222 kg respectively.
The final day of individual competitions also witnessed Iran’s Roohallah Rostami winning his Worlds title after four years.
Rostami, the world champion in Nursultan 2019, later said that he had to overcome a shoulder pain to take the gold with a successful third attempt of 232 kg.
China’s Gu Xiaofei, the Tbilisi 2021 champion, finished second on 231 kg while Iraq’s Rasool Mohsin (226 kg) claimed his first Worlds medal in 13 years.
“I am so happy to win the gold at these championships, despite I had some issues in my shoulder. I had a good feeling during the competition. And I believe with proper medication, I will come back even stronger in Hangzhou 2022, which is my next goal,” said Rostami promising to win the gold in the Paris 2024 Paralympics.
The Iranian still holds the world record in the category at 241 kg set in Bangkok 2021.
In the Elite medals table, China finished with 30 medals including eight silver and six bronze medals, followed by Nigeria and Iran with four gold each. Hosts UAE has one silver in the elite competitions.
Meanwhile, the Dubai 2023 World Para Powerlifting Championships saw new champions emerging in the Elite category while seasoned stars including home star Mohammed Khamis Khalaf taking the honours in the Legend category.
Khalaf, the two-time Paralympic champion from UAE, managed a successful 200 kg lift in his second attempt to finish 11th (Best Lift) in the men’s up to 97 kg category.
China’s Paralympic champion Yan Panpan claimed the gold medal with his best lift of 233 kg.
“It was a good competition but and it’s great to see young players moving up ladder to emerge champions. For me, I will go back to recover and come back stronger.
Winning medal in Legend category also was a good motivation to work hard for upcoming competitions including the Asian Para Games,” said Khalaf, who took the silver in Legend - Total Lift category and bronze in legend - Best Lift category.
On Monday, legends Sherif Osman and Amalia Perez finished outside the medals on a surprising note. However, Perez took the honours in Legend events.
Osman faltered in his final attempt of 189kg only to settle for the fifth place with his best lift of 187 kg. The Egyptian still holds the world record of 211 kg in the category achieved in Rio 2016 Paralympics.
Paralympic champion Qi Yongkai from China clinched his first World title in men’s up to 59 kg with his best lift of 194 kg.
“I was very disappointed with my lifts yesterday,” said Osman, the four-time world champion.
