Qatar’s Fares Ibrahim sweeps 96kg class

As expected, Qatar’s weightlifting star Fares Ibrahim swept the men’s 96kg category in the 5th Qatar International Cup 2018 at the Inter-Continental Doha yesterday.
He won three gold — snatch, clean & jerk and aggregate — surpassing his personal best in the process. The 20-year-old, a former junior world champion, who won a silver at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, improved on his snatch lift from 171 to 172kg; clean and jerk from 220kg to 225kg; and total lift from his previous best of 388kg to 397kg.
China’s Tian fuxuan with lifts of 170 (snatch), 212 (clean & jerk) and total 382 was second, while Tsikhantshou Yauheni of Belarus with 170 (snatch), 211 (clean & jerk) and 381 (total) finished third.
About 130 weightlifters from 35 countries (61 women and 56 men) are taking part in the event. The competition has attracted nearly all the big names of the sport as the three-day event is serving as one of the qualifying tournaments for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Meanwhile, President of International weightlifting Federation (IWF), Tamas Ajan, has praised the progress made by the tournament in its fifth edition. Ajan thanked Mohamed Yousef Al Mana, President of the Qatar weightlifting Federation, for his efforts to promote the sport.
QWF Executive Director Zayed al-Khayarin said the Organizing Committee has provided all the necessary resources for the success of the event.