Gandhinagar: Iran's super-heavyweight weightlifter, Alireza Yousefi, made headlines at the Asian Weightlifting Championships 2026 by not only setting a new world record but also by highlighting the tragic war crimes in Minab. After his record-breaking performance, Yousefi revealed a T-shirt dedicated to the martyrs of the Shajareh Tayyebeh School, sending a powerful message about the US's involvement in the war crimes in Iran.

According to Islamic Republic News Agency, the Asian Weightlifting Championships, held in Gandhinagar, India, witnessed Yousefi claiming the gold medal in the clean and jerk, while also securing the runner-up position in the super-heavyweight category. His impressive performance included a successful lift of 248 kg in his first clean and jerk attempt, which secured him the gold medal in that segment and a silver medal in the total.

Yousefi's competition included notable weightlifters like Song Young-hwan and Hwang Woo-men from South Korea, Gor Minasyan from Bahrain, Cheng Jin and Guan Ting from Chinese Taipei, Amir Abdullaev from Uzbekistan, and Mu'ayyad Al-Najjar from the UAE. Despite fierce competition, Yousefi distinguished himself by setting a new world record in the clean and jerk with a lift of 261 kg, after a successful attempt in his third try.

In the snatch segment, Yousefi initially lifted 177 kg, followed by a successful 184 kg lift, although his attempt at 189 kg was not successful, earning him a bronze medal in that category. His overall performance earned him a silver medal in the total with a combined weight of 446 kg.

The tragic bombing of the Shajareh Tayyebeh primary school in Minab, Iran, on February 28 marked the beginning of the US-Israeli war of aggression on Iran, and Yousefi's gesture served as a poignant reminder of the conflict's devastating impact on civilians.