Sherif snaps world record

Dubai - Jordanian Mohammad Tarbash came away with the silver medal as his second lift of 171kg bettered that of Thailand's Narong Kasanun (170kg) by just one kilogramme.

Egypt's Sherif Othman set a new world record in the men's U59kg category on the second day of the Seventh Fazza IPC Powerlifting World Cup at the Dubai Club for the Disabled,  Tuesday.
He had early round efforts of 190kg and then 200kg and then tried to pull off 210.5kgs in his third and final attempt and duly managed it to seal this success in some style amid rapturous applause and scenes.
Jordanian Mohammad Tarbash came away with the silver medal as his second lift of 171kg bettered that of Thailand's Narong Kasanun (170kg) by just one kilogramme.
Othman said: "Prestigious tournaments like the Fazza IPC Powerlifting World Cup really bring out the best in you as an athlete as the high level of administration and organisation here allows you to focus solely on your powerlifting."
"I've broken several world records at different weight divisions in the past (52kg, 54kg and 56kg) and now I've managed to do it in the U59kg weight class. It is a very important time for all of us ahead of the Paralympic Games this September and winning with a new world record today (Tuesday) is perfect preparation for me on the road to Rio de Janeiro."
Jordan and Kyrgyzstan won their first gold medals in the men's U49kg and U54kg classifications respectively. Omar Sami Hamadeh Qarada dominated the U49kg class, with his second lift of 176kgs seeing him emerge victorious by a full 21kg (155kg) from silver medallist Nador Tunkel, of Hungary. The UAE's Hamad Al Balooshi was competing in the B competition in this weight class and he finished ninth among the combined (A/B), 12-strong field with a lift of 55kg. Al Balooshi finished behind the Saudi duo of Maysar Olaymi (Seventh, 85kg) and Khalid Yaqut (Eighth, 65kg), but ahead of the Bahraini contender Ahmed Al Khayyat (10th, 50kg).
The equivalent U54kgs contest was a much closer affair as Esen Kaliev's 150kg bench-press saw him prevail by eight kilogrammes (142kg) from Ukraine's Sergii Khvalinskyi, with Tetsuo Nishizaki (128kg), of Japan, rounding off the top three.