In a spectacular display of strength and determination, Qatar’s weightlifting sensation, Fares Ibrahim, clinched two gold medals and one bronze at the Qatar Cup IWF Grand Prix – Doha 2023. The victory not only marked a triumphant return for the 25-year-old athlete but also propelled him up the Paris 2024 Olympics rankings in the men’s 102kg category.
Ibrahim’s remarkable performance saw him achieve a total lift of 400kgs, a feat he hadn’t accomplished since claiming the Olympic gold in Tokyo. His dominance in both the total weight lift and clean & jerk events allowed him to outshine the Chinese leader in the Paris 2024 rankings, making a significant leap in the highly competitive field.
Despite securing two golds and a bronze, Ibrahim expressed his hunger for more, stating, “I’m feeling OK but I could have done better; I wanted the world record.” He went on to reveal his ambitions for upcoming events, expressing confidence in breaking records at the Asian Championships or in Thailand, the final two qualifiers in February and April.
The highlight of the competition was Ibrahim’s daring attempt at a world record clean and jerk of 232kg, a feat that all eight athletes, including him, failed to achieve in their final attempts. Despite falling short of this ambitious goal, Ibrahim’s determination and enthusiasm were evident as he reflected on the joy of winning and surpassing the 400kg mark.
Reflecting on his performance, Ibrahim shared, “I’ve been training hard for two months, working harder than I can remember for this. It was good for a comeback. I’m in my home country, and it had to be done, I couldn’t have lost here.”
Ibrahim’s impressive results included a snatch event bronze, contributing to his overall success in the competition. His final tally of 176-224-400 not only improved his best qualifying total by 9kg but also propelled him four places up the rankings, securing the second spot.
Known for his distinctive style, Ibrahim changed his uniform during the interval, a tradition he maintains. He humorously mentioned, “It’s my thing. Next time I’m going to go for something bright, something noisy – maybe purple.”
In the broader competition, Liu Huanhua led the rankings with 404kg, making 176-222-398. Notably, Garik Karapetyan from Armenia, who recently won the junior world title, secured a third-place finish in Doha but made no gain in the rankings.
Other notable performances included Tudor Bratu’s significant jump up the rankings in the B Group, making a six-from-six 175-215-390. Bratu, who started the day in 24th place, expressed his satisfaction, stating, “I’ve had a back injury and a heel injury this year, and I wasn’t properly fit.”
The women’s 81kg category witnessed world records for China and Japan, with Liang Xiaomei extending her lead at the top of the rankings. Liang’s teammate, Wang Zhouyu, the 87kg Olympic champion, finished second after failing a world record clean and jerk attempt on 160kg.
Australian lifter Eileen Cikamatana, known for her distinctive whistle before lifts, secured a bronze medal with a career-high total of 112-149-261. The Japanese teenager Wakana Nagashima set two youth world records despite missing her final attempt, finishing with a total of 105-131-236.
While the competition showcased incredible feats and records, it also highlighted the fierce competition and determination among athletes as they strive for excellence on the road to the Paris 2024 Olympics.
