Asian Championships Blast Through in Nepal

The first World Powerlifting Asia Championships, held in Kathmandu, opened up the sport in that region, with 130 lifters setting records and drawing big crowds live and on-line.

Home nation Nepal on produced a world record setter, 69kger Bikin Joshi benching 169kg to put paid to Aussie Usukh Od-Erdene’s previous mark. Bikin’s 640kg Total was good enough for Best Lifter, 20 points ahead of the dashing Dr. Rajib Shrestha who punched out 697kg @85kg. Up at 120+kg Sri Lanka’s Ransilu Jayathilake was a standout in the Squat and Deadlift,with 275kg and 310kg, but a shoulder injury and very moderate bench kept him out of the Best Lifter race.

In the womens lifting Nepal was again the top nation, but India was also to the fore. Chinmayee Das took out Best Lifter Women with 460kg @ 84kg, with multiple Indian winners in Deadlift.

This was a great event and a tribute to meet director Sukadev Karki and the Nepal team. Now the next chapter in Asia will be the World Championships in Colombo, Sri Lanka November 27-30.