Two members of Kazakhstan’s weightlifting team broke standing records at the recent Anatoly Khrapaty competition on July 20th in the outskirts of Almaty.
For one of the record breakers Ilya Ilyin it was the first appearance since winning the London 2012 Summer Olympics. Weighing 107.4 kilogrammes, he competed in the 105-kilogramme+ category.
In the snatch, Ilyin took on the 180 and 185-kilogramme weights with consistency; however, during his third approach, he couldn’t manage the 188-kilogramme barbell. In his second exercise, Ilya was successful at the 230-kilogramme mark and then asked for 239. He successfully mastered this weight, setting a new record for Kazakhstan. It should be noted that the coaching staff of the Kazakh National Team are not allowed to train athletes with overly heavy weights.
Meanwhile, the winner of the heavyweight category was 22-year-old Ibrahim Bersanov. While in the snatch, he confidently performed at three levels of weight: 187 kilogrammes, 192 kilogrammes and 197 kilogrammes, setting a new national record. In the push competition, Bersanov exerted no less effort than his partner, managing 220 kilogrammes, 227 kilogrammes and 232 kilogrammes. Ibrahim set a record for both Kazakhstan and the double-event. The record is now 429 kilogrammes.
Talented 17-year-old Zelimkhan Abubakar claimed the third step of the podium, which added to the long list of things those rooting for Kazakhstan’s weightlifting team have to cheer for. Both Bersanov and Abubakarov train with experienced coach Enver Turkeleri, so there is little doubt that they will only grow stronger before the next Asian Games coming up in autumn 2014.
