Khattab sets new world record at Dubai 2023 Worlds

Jordan’s Abdelkareem Khattab continued his world record breaking spree in Dubai as he bettered his own mark by one kilo on his way winning his Dubai 2023 Para Powerlifting World Championships gold at the Hilton Dubai Al Habtoor city.

Khattab, the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic champion, put on a confident show on the bench to set a new mark in Dubai yet again, this time with a 251 kg lift in the men’s up to 88 kg – a category in which he had picked up his last Paralympic and World titles.

At the last World Cup in Dubai, Khattab broke the world record three time in men’s up to 97 kg before taking the gold medal at 255 kg.

Khattab started with 230 kg to finish with a new world record of 251 kg. He tried to improve it further in his fourth attempt but was unsuccessful.

“I am filled with immense joy on setting a new world record in the World Powerlifting Championship, which I consider to be one of my best shows, even surpassing the Paralympics,” said Khattab who held the earlier world record from Tbilisi 2021 Worlds.

“I attribute all my success to my God.”

“Whenever I achieve a new number, I write it on a board in front of my bench when I train, and I try to break it in the next championship,” he added.

The Jordanian star was followed by China’s Ye Jixiong and Egypt’s Mohamed Elelfat who finished with lifts of 234 kg and 222 kg respectively.

The final day of individual competitions also witnessed Iran’s Roohallah Rostami winning his first Worlds title after four years.

Rostami, the world champion in Nursultan 2019, later said that he had to overcome shoulder pain to take the gold with a successful third attempt of 232 kg.

In the Elite medals table, China finished with 30 medals including eight silver and six bronze medals, followed by Nigeria and Iran with four gold each. Hosts UAE has one silver in the elite competitions.

• Sports