Moradi raises the bar with Ashgabat 2017 world record

In one of the great moments in the history of the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games, Iran’s Sohrab Moradi broke an 18-year-old weightlifting world record at Ashgabat 2017.   

The Rio 2016 Olympic champion set a new aggregate total lift mark of 413kg in the men’s 94kg, with the thrilling performance on Saturday 23 September.

Moradi, who had celebrated his 29th birthday the previous day, followed a 185kg lift in the Snatch by hoisting 228kg in the Clean and Jerk before raising his hands in triumph to take the crowd's applause.

The previous record, set by Akakios Kakiasvilis of Greece, was created in 1999.

As well as being a breakthrough moment for the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games, it was an achievement Moradi had long worked towards. 

"This is the result of many years of work and I am very happy and delighted for my efforts," said Moradi.

“One of my goals as an athlete was to win an Olympic championship. This is important. But this one is also important because I really wanted to do it. I am happy to do this."