Qatar’s Fares Ibrahim Hassouna celebrates with the top weightlifter’s trophy.
Doha: Qatar’s Fares Ibrahim Hassouna along with Chinese Tapei’s Kuo Hsing Chun emerged as the top weightlifters in the men’s and women’s classes respectively at the International Qatar Cup here yesterday.
At the InterContinental Doha, the 20-year-old Fares, who won silver at the 2018 Asian Games, finished with a tally of 856 points leaving Rejepov Rejepbay of Turkmenistan, who had a scorecard of 833 points in the second spot while Yokubov Doston of Uzbekistan came third with 822 points.
In the women’s section. Kuo tallied 945 points followed the Chinese duo of Luo Xiaimin and Zhang Yujuan, who finished with identical scores of 829 points.
In the team’s event, Kazakhstan topped followed by Uzbekistan, Bulgaria, Iran and Japan in the men’s section while in the women’s section China came first followed by Romania, USA, Chinese Taipei, and Japan.
As many as 130 weightlifters from 35 countries (61 women and 56 men) took part in the event. The competition has attracted some of the big names of the sport as the three-day event is serving as qualifying for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
On Friday, Fares came up with a sensational show in the Men’s 96kg Snatch and Clean & Jerk category to clinch three golds and on the way broke two junior world records.
He set new personal marks in all the three sections: snatch, clean & jerk, and the total. He bettered his snatch lift from 171 to 172kgs; clean and jerk from 220kgs to 225kgs; and total lift from his previous best of 388kgs to a whopping 397kgs.
Most outstanding female weightlifter, Chinese Tapei’s Kuo Hsing Chun
China’s Tian Fuxuan with lifts of 170 (snatch), 212 (clean & jerk) and total 382 was second, while Tsikhantshou Yauheni of Belarus with lifts of 170 (snatch), 211 (clean & jerk) and total 381 finished third.
Fares had a jittery start to his campaign as he failed with his attempts at 168kgs and 171kgs in snatch, but returned to top with his third attempt of 172kgs.
In clean and jerk, he was however superbly confident and made no mistakes going on achieve his personal bests.
Meanwhile, Fares said he is delighted with his performance at the home event and has set his sights on winning a gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Fares said what has been achieved on Friday is the result of work and great efforts over a period of time, noting that he has worked very hard ahead of the event to reach the level of excellence.
He praised the role played by the Olympic Committee under the chairmanship of HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani and the Qatar Weightlifting and Fencing Federation headed by Mohammed Yousef Al Mana for the continued support.
