The highly anticipated 66th Weightlifting Championship and the 6th National Women's Weightlifting Championship 2024 commenced Tuesday at the Burt Institute Wedding Hall.
According to Sohail Javed Butt, Media Coordinator, PWLF, Hafiz Imran Butt, President of Pakistan Weightlifting Federation inaugurated the four-day championship.
A total of 75 male weightlifters and 61 female weightlifters affiliated with the Pakistan Weightlifting Federation are participating in it.
Representatives from various organisations, including WAPDA, Army, Police, Railways, Higher Education Commission, all four provinces, and the federal capital Islamabad, are competing in the championship.
The organising team comprise Nuzhat Jabeen, Aqeel Javed Butt, Amjad Ameen Butt. The referee panel comprises Zahur Ahmed, Sohail Butt, Akbar Ali . while the announcers include Naila Maqsood Butt, Waqas Akbar, and Amir Ali. The technical officials include Irfan Butt, Qaisar Iftikhar, and Adeeb Akram.
On the first day of the championship, several weightlifters showcased their exceptional strength and skills. In the 55-kilogram class, Haider Salman from the Pakistan Army won gold with a total lift of 230 kilograms, followed by Subhan Ali from Punjab with a total lift of 192 kilograms, Muhammad Kamran from Pakistan Railways with a total lift of 188 kilograms.
In the 61-kilogram class, Muhammad Yusuf from HEC emerged as the champion with a total lift of 258 kilograms. Muhammad Ali Ghani from the Pakistan Army secured the second position with a total lift of 257 kilograms, while Timur Khan from Punjab claimed the third position with a total lift of 239 kilograms.
In the 67-kilogram class, Abu Bakar Ghani from the Pakistan Army clinched the top position with a total lift of 263 kilograms. Shujaat Kalim from WAPDA claimed the second position, and Muhammad Shayan from Pakistan Railways secured the third position with a total lift of 233.
Former Chairman of Pakistan Railway and ex-senior VP of Pakistan Weightlifting Federation Muhammad Javed Anwar Bobak will distribute prizes among men weight lifters at 6 pm.