Female Iranian lifter finishes runner-up in Asian Youth & Jr. Championships

Female Iranian weightlifter Laya Karimi stole the limelight at the 2023 Asian Youth and Junior Weightlifting Championships in India, finishing as the runner-up.

Karimi walked away with silver and bronze medals in Group A of the 71-kilogram weight category of the competition held in the Indian capital city of New Delhi on Wednesday. 

The Iranian athlete lifted 83 kilograms for the snatch to clinch the silver and went on to lift 91 kilograms for the clean and jerk to grab the bronze.

The young Iranian sportswoman ended her campaign with an aggregate of 174 kilograms.

A weightlifter representing Thailand claimed goal medals in all three categories.

Karimi's exemplary feat came a day after female Iranian athletes managed to pocket five gold, two silver and a bronze in the 64-kilogram weight section of the competition. 

Three Iranian representatives in the 59-kilogram category also grabbed two silver and two bronze.

Seyyedeh Ghazaleh Hosseini was awarded a silver medal in the snatch.

Rayhaneh Karimi won silver in the clean and jerk, bronze in the snatch and another bronze on aggregate.

The 2023 Asian Youth and Junior Weightlifting Championships kicked off in New Delhi, India, on July 28 and will conclude on August 5. 

MG