Qatari weightlifter Fares Ahmed Jaber sets personal bests at Asian Championships

Qatar weightlifter Fares Ahmed Jaber beat personal bests at Asian Championships in India to find himself in medal contention heading into final results on Sunday
Saturday, Qatari weightlifter Fares Ahmed Jaber recorded new personal bests during the 2026 Asian Weightlifting Championships in India, according to QNA, which said the move had given him a better chance of medaling ahead of the final results.

172 men and women athletes from 28 national federations have arrived in Gandhinagar, where the championships are being held and is one of the strongest editions of continental competition.

Jaber was ranked first overall in the under-20 110kg category and second among all participants after competing in Group B of the under-17 +94kg ballot.

The Qatari lifter totalled 363kg with 160kg and 203kg courtesy of personal-best lifts in all three disciplines.

Updated final medal standings will be available after the completion of Group A Sunday.

PARIS: Mohammed Youssef Al-Mannai the First Vice President of Qatar Olympic Committee and President of the Qatar, Arab, Asian and Afro-Asian Weightlifting Federations praised Jaber's for his performance saying athlete's new personal records were a reflection of technical progress made over the past few months.

Al-Mannai described Jaber's showing at the championships as a big step on his sports journey and added he had a great future ahead of him, particularly against strong Asian competition with world and Olympic champions.

Qatari weightlifter Wissal Yakhlaf, who is competing in the women’s +86kg category on Sunday, will be looking to build on her recent continental and Arab successes.

Soud claimed the first weightlifting medal for QatarYakhlaf bagged a total of nine golds from the 10th Qatar International Weightlifting Championships, the Arab Championships and also the West Asian Championships in Doha in December 2025. At the sixth Islamic Solidarity Games in November last year, she also clinched three gold medals in Riyadh.

North Korea's team also broke 12 international records at the championships, including six senior world and Asian records as well as six junior records.