Qatar Wins Three Gold Medals on Final Day of FISU World University Weightlifting Championship

Doha, Qatar : Qatar claimed three gold medals on the final day of the 10th FISU World University Weightlifting Championship – Doha 2026, hosted by Qatar Foundation.

Championship Brings Together 116 Athletes from 21 Nations

The championship brought together 116 male and female athletes from 21 countries, underscoring Qatar's growing presence as a host of major international competitions.

Four Weight Categories Contested on Final Day

The closing day featured competition in four weight classes at the Education City Student Center: the women's 86-kilogram and over-86-kilogram categories, and the men's 110-kilogram and over-110-kilogram categories.

Yakhlef Sweeps Gold in Women's Over-86kg Category

In the women's over-86-kilogram category, Qatar's Wissal Yakhlef swept all three gold medals, winning the snatch with a 125-kilogram lift, the clean and jerk with 155 kilograms, and the overall title with a combined total of 280 kilograms. South Korea's Yoo Hyo-bin claimed all three silver medals with a total of 248 kilograms, while Slovakia's Lenka Zembova took bronze across all three events with a total of 229 kilograms.

Yakhlef Reflects on Milestone Ahead of Asian Games

Speaking to reporters after the medal ceremony, Yakhlef said she was delighted with her three gold medals, describing the achievement as an important milestone in her career, built on extensive preparation and sustained effort rather than chance. She noted that the competition featured several highly skilled lifters, adding to its technical quality, and said the win would serve as motivation heading into her next challenge — the weightlifting competition at the 20th Asian Games, Aichi-Nagoya 2026, beginning next week in Japan, where she will compete as part of Qatar's national delegation.

Chinese Taipei's Peng Sweeps Women's 86kg Category

In the women's 86-kilogram category, Chinese Taipei's Yu-Lin Peng swept the gold medals with an overall total of 232 kilograms. South Korea's Yubin Hong took silver with a total of 224 kilograms, while Moldova's Anastasia Balici earned bronze with 209 kilograms.

QCSF President and Championship Organizing Committee Chairman Dr. Ibrahim bin Saleh Al Naimi presented medals to the top finishers in both women's categories during a celebratory ceremony.

American Lifters Shine in Men's 110kg Category

In the men's 110-kilogram category, American lifter George Upmeyer swept the gold medals with a total of 369 kilograms. Romania's Paul Ionita won silver in the clean and jerk and overall competition, along with bronze in the snatch, while fellow American Caleb Wicklund earned silver in the snatch and bronze in the clean and jerk and overall total.

Iraq's Jabbar Tops Men's Over-110kg Category

In the men's over-110-kilogram category, Iraq's Mustafa Jabbar swept the gold medals with a total of 382 kilograms. South Korea's Park Jin-ho claimed silver in the clean and jerk and overall competition, while Moldova's Stanislav Oja earned silver in the snatch and bronze overall. Finland's Hannu Kiskitalo took bronze in the snatch, and South Korea's Kim Dong-hyun claimed bronze in the clean and jerk.

Closing Ceremony Celebrates Five Days of Competition

The final day showcased the advanced level of collegiate weightlifting, with performances reflecting strong preparation and competitive spirit. Following the conclusion of competition, a closing ceremony combined a parade of participating nations' flags with elements of Qatari culture, alongside a video recap of the five-day championship.

The ceremony was attended by QCSF Secretary-General Rashid Saeed Adiba, FISU Technical Committee Chair Dr. Milan Mihajlovic, FISU International Supervisory Committee member Sarita Morales Brenes, and other sports and academic figures.

Officials Praise Championship's Success

In his remarks, Adiba thanked all those who contributed to the championship's success, praising the participating delegations and athletes who traveled to Doha, and noting the event's role in fostering fair play, cultural exchange, and friendship among young people worldwide.

Morales Brenes expressed appreciation to QCSF and all officials, volunteers, coaches, and athletes involved in the championship's success. The ceremony included the handover of the FISU flag to Morales Brenes, with Albania set to host the 11th edition of the championship in 2028.

The flag handover marked the conclusion of five days of competition involving roughly 116 athletes from 21 countries, featuring strong technical performances across the various weight categories.

Source: QNA