Curtain comes down on IWF Qatar Cup
Doha: The curtain fell on the Qatar Cup IWF Grand Prix II at Aspire Zone yesterday with Armenia claiming all three gold medals in a dramatic finale. The women’s gym at Aspire Zone Foundation witnessed the culmination of fierce competition from 402 lifters representing over 100 nations. The Doha event was an Olympic Games 2024 qualifying tournament.
Supported by sponsors like Aspire Zone Foundation and Ooredoo, the tournament showcased the pinnacle of weightlifting, with Armenia ultimately rising above the rest and securing their Olympic dreams. Armenia had a 1-2 finish in the men’s +109kg event when Varazdat Lalayan finished ahead of Simon Martirosyan. Lalayan, second in the rankings on 462kg, made 200-241-441 and Martirosyan declined his final attempt after making 190-240-430. Third-placed Eduard Ziaziulin posted 193-225-418.
In the women’s Mary Theisen Lappen of the US celebrated winning the gold in the 87kg competition on the final day of the Qatar Cup IWF Grand Prix II yesterday.
Theisen Lappen made a career-best total of 120-163-283. Duangaksorn Chaidee from Thailand (121-152-273 ) and Iuniarra Sipaia of Samoa finished second and third respectively (109-153-262). Lappen, 33, has competed in Colombia, Argentina, Cuba, Saudi Arabia, Chile and Qatar since last December. “This has been a crazy long year,” Theisen Lappen said. “At the start of it I was excited about travelling to international competitions. Now I’m dreading the 17-hour flight home and looking forward to not travelling.
“I haven’t had any time off the whole year, none. Now with this result I can take a break for Christmas. I’m going to my parents home where I can spend some time just hanging out without lifting. I’ll be back in the gym on December 27th.
“My aim at the start of 2023 was to be where I am now. I feel super strong but there’s been plenty to work on with technique. I have a good coach (Wil Fleming) to help with that,” Theisen Lappen added.
During the closing ceremony of the Qatar Cup and IWF Grand Prix, Mohamed bin Youssef al-Mana, First Vice-President of the Qatar Olympic Committee, applauded the vital role played by Mohamed Khalifa al-Suwaidi, CEO of the Aspire Zone Foundation. He commended al-Suwaidi’s dedication and leadership in fostering weightlifting excellence in Qatar and beyond.
Nine Olympic gold medallists, nine current world champions and 13 world record holders featured in various weight categories over the course of the last 10 days.
President of IWF Jalood extended his thanks and appreciation to the Qatar Weightlifting Federation and to the staffers in the LOC for putting things together for the 10-day champion
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