JORDAN ‘LIFT’ WEST ASIAN GOLD

 Tareq Abu Saqoot has lifted gold for Jordan on the final day of the 4th West Asian Weightlifting Championships taking place in Amman’s Al Hussein Youth City.

Abu Saqoot lifted a combined 270kg in the +105kg heavyweight category followed by the UAE’s Rashid Al Murri (250kg) in second and another Jordanian, Zeid Saber, in third (195kg).

But the heavyweights were outlifted by the -105kg athletes below them with Iraq’s Ali Mikhan securing gold with a combined lift of 335kg.

Ra'ed Al Khawaldeh took silver with 300kg and his teammate Suhaib Al Fararjeh won bronze with 242kg.

Iraq’s Mustafa Jawwad took gold in the 69kg weight followed by Saudi Arabia’s Hassan Al Ajean and Hassan Al Bahrini. Another Iraqi, Laith Kazim, took gold in the 77kg followed by teammate Mohammad Jasin with Saudi Arabia’s Jehad Al Ghazawi in third.

The Iraq gold trail continued in the 85kg weight when Ameen Ra'ed took first, followed by Saudi Arabia’s Hussein Al Majed in second.

The event has been hailed as a success with Jordan Weightlifting Federation President, Azzam Al Zu'bi, saying: “This tournament has provided the best lifters in the region the chance to compete against each other in a well organised environment.

The success of this event will encourage us to look for more championships to host.”