Ningbo:Iranian weightlifter Alireza Yousefi clinched the clean and jerk gold medal with a world-record lift at the 2026 World Weightlifting Championships held in Ningbo, China. Yousefi also secured the overall silver in the super-heavyweight category.

According to Islamic Republic News Agency, the championships served as the first qualifying event for the 2026 Los Angeles Olympics, running from October 27 to November 8, culminating in the super-heavyweight competition.

Ali Davoudi, another Iranian competitor, began the event by earning a bronze medal in the snatch with a lift of 206 kilograms, while Yousefi placed fourth in the same category with a lift of 195 kilograms. Yousefi's remarkable performance came in the clean and jerk, where he initially succeeded with a lift of 253 kilograms, stumbled at 258 kilograms, but ultimately set a world record by lifting 263 kilograms, earning him the gold in that category. His total lift of 458 kilograms won him the overall silver medal.

Davoudi managed a lift of 246 kilograms in the clean and jerk but struggled with attempts at 261 kilograms, finishing with a total of 452 kilograms. Iraq's Ali Ammar won the overall title with a total of 466 kilograms, securing the snatch gold as well. Armenia's Varazdat Lalayan took bronze with a total lift of 457 kilograms, also earning silver in the snatch.