Four Afghans win gold in the Asian Powerlifting Championships

On Saturday, May 8th, Pajhwok Afghan News reported that four Afghan weightlifters competing in the recently held seven-day Asian Powerlifting Championships have won gold medals. Moreover, Ali Raza Rafezada, a 28 year old from Herat province, won the gold in the 270kg category, thus becoming Asia’s “number one weightlifter”. The second place went to Iran and third to Mongolia. The other Afghans who won gold were Jamil Arab, Ali Ahmad Shahabi and Muhammad Nadar Mujaddidi.The competition was held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, and representatives from 46 countries participated in the event. On May 8th, the head of National Olympic Committee, Mohammad Zahir Akhtar, attended a gathering held in order to honor the accomplishments of the Afghan weightlifters.