Asia Pacific Championships Unfold in Hong Kong

All was peaceful at the Ibis Sheung Wan for the 2019 Asia Pacific Championships, with 130 lifters taking the stage in Powerlifting and Bench Press.  The new Hong Kong Powerlifting Federation, already the dominant force in the SAR, presented the Regions best over three days of action in front of a full house.

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In the Women’s lifting New Zealand’s Catherine Shon was out in front with 386kg total at 58kg to take Best Lifter.  That was just two points ahead of Australia’s Megan Reed, filling out back into the 72kg class with 435kg, at 68kg.  bodyweight. Hot favourite Yani Zhao never recovered from hips off misses in the Bench to come in third overall.  In the Equipped division Tash Williams (NZL) was the standout with a big 562kg/501 points Total.

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The Men’s classes had depth.  Joash Teabuge of Nauru took out Best Lifter with 785kg at 105kg, being spared the expected challenge when Jack Adams inexplicably bombed on 185kg Bench.  Matt Bartholomew of Australia was also trailing Joash, with 729kg at 94kg but was well in front in that class.  Closer battles came down lower in the bodyweights.  At 85kg Victor Liu held off Richard Kwan on the last Deadlift, whilst history repeated itself in the 69kg, Wesley Foo (Australia)’s 239kg putting paid to an inexplicable 261kg miss by Dennis Chu (HKG) when the Totals were added up.  At 77kg matters were less fraught, Dyke Daoe of Nauru being 28kg clear of Tyler Man, but Tyler struck back by taking Best Bench Presser with 157kg at 77kg.

Team awards were duly split between Australia in the Womens and Hong Kong in the Mens.