We saw fireworks in the second session on day 9 with some exciting competitions and close battles.
Alba Bostrom of Sweden was very convincing in the 63s, leading the competition all the way through with some really sold technique and holding off a spirited challenge by Zsanett Palagyi of Hungary of had to settle for silver.
There was only 5kg between the top 4 lifters in the 69s with Asel Nurkenova (KAZ) in the lead on bodyweight after the first round. She nailed a world junior record of 120kg for her second but Andrea Petrek of Croatia matched her and Maria Ryabova (ROC) and Ekaterina Kryukova (KAZ) were only 2.5kg behind. Kryukova went out first in the 3rd round but missed 120kg and Ryabova moved ahead with a successful attempt at the same weight. Asel’s 122.5kg did not go which gave Petrek an opportunity to bench for the gold. It came off her chest very slowly but she kept her position and just kept pushing, giving us the longest grind of the competition so far to walk away the world champion.
The 76kg class had us on the edge of our seats. Xeniya Khan of Kazakhstan, who took the equipped world title a week ago, was well matched with Sweden’s Annika Zelander. They both opened with 130kg and took 135kg for the second. Khan had the lower lot number and the higher bodyweight (by 150g!) so had the double disadvantage of having to go out first AND lift more. As we went into the third round, Micaela Odling (SWE) made a brave attempt at 135kg to take the lead but it was not to be and she had to settle for the bronze. Both the front runners had asked for 140kg to match the world record standard with Khan going first but the Kazakhstan coaches changed to 140.5kg to force the Swedish lifter out first. She matched the change but Khan went up to 141kg! Zelander followed suit and, out of options, Khan had to go out and attempt 141kg. She got it and shot into the lead which put pressure on Zelander who had to go up to 141.5kg. The tension in the room was palpable as she attempted the world record but she couldn’t quite manage it and had to settle for the silver.
We could not have asked for a better session with every strategic element of powerlifting coming into play: lot numbers, bodyweight and the coaches using every change possible. We loved it.
30th October 2021
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