From September 19 to 27, 2024, Leon, Spain, hosted the IWF Junior Championship. Fifteen Asian countries participated, sending a total of 89 athletes—39 women and 50 men. The nations represented included Bahrain, India, Iran, Jordan, Japan, Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia, Korea, Kuwait, the Philippines, Thailand, Turkmenistan, Chinese Taipei, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam.
Asian Women Medal Count
Asian women performed strongly, winning 25 medals across various categories. The Philippines led with 7 medals (4 gold, 2 silver, and 1 bronze), followed by Chinese Taipei with 4 medals (3 gold, 1 silver). Thailand earned 6 medals (1 gold, 3 silver, 2 bronze), and Korea secured 3 silver medals. Uzbekistan, Japan, and Turkmenistan added more to Asia’s success with a mix of silver and bronze.
Asian Men Medal Count
Asian men brought home a total of 34 medals. Vietnam stood out with 6 medals (5 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze). Korea followed closely, earning 5 medals (4 gold, 1 silver). Turkmenistan made a strong showing with 3 gold medals, and Japan secured 6 medals (2 gold, 3 silver, 1 bronze). Other notable performances came from Kazakhstan, Iran, Uzbekistan, India, and Jordan.
Record-Breaking Performances
Several Asian athletes made their mark by breaking world records. Korea’s Heesoo Jeon set a new youth world record in the women’s 76 kg category with a total lift of 232 kg. In the men’s 55 kg category, Vietnam’s K Duong set a snatch record of 115 kg, while Saudi Arabia’s Mohammad Bassam Almarzouq set new records in the men’s 73 kg category with a snatch of 144 kg and a total of 310 kg.
New junior records were also set by Asian lifters. Chinese Taipei’s Chen Guan-Ling broke records in the women’s 55 kg category, lifting 98 kg in the snatch and 119 kg in the clean and jerk for a total of 217 kg. Turkmenistan’s Shahzatbek Matyakubov set a new clean and jerk record in the men’s 102 kg category with a lift of 216 kg.
Best Asian Lifters of the Championship
Chen Guan-Ling from Chinese Taipei was the best Asian female lifter of the championship. Shahzatbek Matyakubov from Turkmenistan earned the title of best Asian male lifter, standing out with his exceptional performance in the 102 kg category.
AWF Leadership Reactions
Mohamed Yousef Al Mana, President of the Asian Weightlifting Federation, praised the athletes, saying, “These results show the commitment and strength of our athletes. They have truly given their best, and we are proud of their efforts.”
AWF General Secretary Mohammed Ahmed Al Harbi added, “It’s been an excellent competition for Asian athletes, and we’re very pleased with their performances. The future of weightlifting in Asia looks bright.”
IWF President and AWF First Vice President, Mohammed Jalood, also highlighted the importance of fairness in the sport. “Our athletes have not only achieved great results, but they’ve done so with integrity. Fair play and respect for the rules are key values in weightlifting, and we are proud to see our athletes represent these ideals.”
As the 2024 IWF Junior Championship comes to a close, the AWF is already looking ahead.
The next major event will be the 2024 IWF World Championships in Manama, Bahrain, followed by the 2024 AWF Youth and Junior Championships and the Qatar Cup in Qatar later this year. Great results from Asian athletes are expected in these competitions as well.
