The International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) Grand Prix President's Cup was held in Moscow at the Palace of Sports Arena Mytishchi from 21-23 November. The weightlifters competed in the men's 94kg, 105kg and +105 kg and women 75kg and +75kg. The first place winner took $5,000, second place $3,000 and third $2,000. The winner in each bodyweight category also received medals and diplomas from the Russian Federation's Ministry of Sports. Weightlifters from three continents and 14 countries competed: Armenia, Russia, Romania, Spain, Egypt, Poland, Azerbaijan, Lithuania, Latvia, Syria, Hungary, Ukraine, Serbia and Thailand. The tournament is always held in Russia. The first edition was held in Belgorod in 2011. The second took place in St Petersburg at the Palace of Sports Yubileyniy (12 -14 October 2012). The third edition was moved to Moscow. In the men's +105 kg bodyweight category, Egyptian weightlifters Mohamed Ihasan won the gold medal with a 191 snatch and 231 clean and jerk, the total number of kilograms lifted at 422. Russian Muratov Gennady won silver with a total score of 421. Ukrainian Proshak Oleg won the bronze with a 415 lift. The president of the Egyptian Weightlifting Federation Mahmoud Mahgoub told Al-Ahram Weekly, “In this bodyweight category in particular, Russia always wins the gold medal. Ihasan broke the rule and became the first non-Russian weightlifter to win gold in this category. He amazed all the spectators with his outstanding performance.” Ihasan set a new African and Arab record with 191 in the snatch. In the men's 94 kg category, Russian Rasulov Ramazan took first place with 373 total kilogrammes lifted. Egyptian Ragab Abdel-Hai in the 94 kg, won silver with a 168 snatch and 200 clean and jerk, a total number of kilograms lifted at 368. Another Russian got third with 366. “The IWF only sent invitations to world ranking weightlifters to participate in this championship and IWF covered all the expenses,” Mahgoub said. “It is the first time three Egyptian weightlifters were invited: Mohamed Ihasan +105kg, Ragab Abdel-Hai 94 kg and Abeer Abdel-Rahman 75kg. Unfortunately, Abdel-Rahman didn't participate due to an injury, a cruciate ligament in her knee which needs surgery.” Abdel-Rahman was injured in her last match competing for the gold medal at the XVII Mediterranean Games in Turkey in June. She won two silver medals instead. On the preparations of the Egyptian weightlifters for the championship, Mahgoub added, “They were in continuous training in the Olympic centre in Maadi under the supervision of coach Khaled Korani. There is no possibility of a training camp abroad. We don't have the budget.” The players have participated in several international championships including the Islamic Solidarity Weightlifting Games in Indonesia in October and the IWF World championship in Poland the same month.
Mohamed Ihasan Career Highlights Ihasan, 29, is in the +105kg weight body category. He was world junior champion in 2002 and 2003. In 2013, he finished in fourth place with a total kilogramme lift of 416 at the IWF World Championships in Poland. He won a gold medal in the IWF Grand Prix President's Cup in Moscow and Islamic Solidarity Games in Indonesia. In 2010, he finished in seventh place with a lift of 418 at the 78th World Championships. In 2009, he came fifth with 415 at the World Championships. In 2008, he won a gold medal with a 182 snatch 230 clean and jerk, a total of 412 lifted at the African championships. In the Olympic Games Athens 2004, he finished 11th with 405.0. In 2003, he took a gold medal at the Junior World Championships with 180 snatch and 225 clean and jerk a total number of kilogrammes lifted at 405. In 2002, he won a gold medal with 180 snatch and 222.5 clean and jerk a total number of kilogrammes lifted at 402.5 at the Men's Junior World Championships.
Ragab Abdel-Hai Career Highlights Abdel-Hai is 22. In the Olympic Games London 2012, he was in the 85 kg category, finishing in sixth place with a total score of 372. In 2011, he won a gold medal with a 162 snatch and 200 clean and jerk a total number of kilogrammes lifted 362 at the Arab Games. He won a gold medal in the African Junior Championships in 2010. In 2009 Abdel-Hai competed in the 77kg category, winning a gold medal with 152 snatch and 200 clean and jerk for a total number of 352 kilogrammes lifted at the Arab Games. He also took a gold medal with a total score of 323 at the African Senior Championships. In 2013, Abdel-Hai made his first appearance in the 94 kg category. He won a gold medal at the Islamic Solidarity Games in Indonesia. He took a gold medal with 163 snatch and 206 clean and jerk a total number of kilogrammes lifted at 369 at the XVII Mediterranean Games in Turkey. He took a silver one at the IWF Grand Prix President's Cup.
