UAE’s Khalaf smashes Asian record, clinches gold in Legend category

Gulf Today, Sports Reporter

UAE Paralympic star Mohammed Khamis Khalaf might have ended his individual campaign at the 13th Fazza Dubai 2024 Para Powerlifting World Cup in sixth place, but the legendary powerlifter was happy with the show in the new weight category and promises to further improve.

Khalaf went home with the gold in men’s under 88kg total -Legend category and a new Asian record in the Legend category with his successful lift of 200kg.

The veteran star, who is likely to qualify for Paris 2024 in the men’s up to 97kg category having placed sixth in the Paralympic rankings, went down to compete in men’s up to 88kg at the Dubai 2024.

He managed a lift of 200 kg to end sixth in Best Lift. China’s Yan Panpan clinched the gold with his best lift of 220kg.

“It’s part of our preparation for Paris 2024, and I am trying to qualify for Paris 2024 in men’s -88kg category. It was an important event to try the new weight category in which I already had won medals before. Overall, it was a good event and I feel confident with my lift of 200kg,” said Khalaf who lost five-six kilograms in just one week to compete in the up to 88kg category.

The two-time Paralympic champion further said he feels confident in the new weight category and would be happy to participate in Paris 2024 in the men's -88kg category.

“My training starts during the Ramadan, and I hope gain more power to go up in my lifts in the coming months,” added the 54-year-old, who will be participating in the Thailand and Tbilisi 2024 World Cups, in the quest of qualifying for Paris in men’s -88kg category.

Earlier, Haifa Alnaqbi took the silver medal in women’s -73kg Total category. Though the medal will not be counted for the Paris 2024 Paralympic qualification rankings, it must have boosted her confidence in her preparation for the Paris 2024 qualification.

In other events of the day, Iran’s heavyweight champions Ahmad Aminzadeh (267kg) and Aliakbar Gharibshahi (250kg) continued the legacy of legend Siamand Rahman taking the gold medal in over and under 107kg weight categories.

Otherwise, it was China which led the medals table with 22 gold medals from their total of 31 medals at the Dubai Club for People of Determination grounds.

Some of China’s best women powerlifters including Paralympic and World stars Tan Yujiao (women’s -67kg), Cui Jianjin (women’s -61kg) Liye Lao (women’s -73kg) and Feifei Zheng (women’s +86kg) dominated the bench to win the gold and push themselves up in the Paralympic qualification rankings list.

The competitions in the Dubai 2024 Powerlifting event continues until Wednesday, with the Team events to be competed on the final day.