WATCH: Fares Ibrahim strikes first gold for Qatar at Tokyo Olympics
Qatar made history as weightlifter Fares Ibrahim won the country's first-ever Olympic gold medal when he lifted a total weight of 402kg to claim victory in the men's 96kg category at the 2020 Tokyo Games today.
Ibrahim also set an Olympic record in Clean and Jerk on his way to the gold, lifting 225kg. In the snatch, he lifted 177kg.
"Our weightlifter Ibrahim has won the Gold medal and an Olympic record! in the 96kg category at the Olympic Games – Tokyo 2020," Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) said in a tweet on Saturday.
نبارك للبطل فارس إبراهيم بالفوز بالميدالية الذهبية.. فخورين فيك https://t.co/jVZI0m2SNE
— تميم بن حمد (@TamimBinHamad) July 31, 2021
Venezuela's Keydomar Vallenilla Sanchez won sliver, and Georgia's Anton Pliesnoi claimed bronze.
Until today, high jumper Mutaz Barshim's silver medal at Rio Games in 2016 was Qatar's best achievement in the Olympics so far.
Coincidentally, Tokyo was the place the 22-year-old Ibrahim won his first career gold medal when he won the 85kg category at the 2017 Junior World Championships.
The Qatari weightlifter, a two-time World Championships medalist, qualified for the Tokyo Olympics after winning two gold and a silver in the 96kg category at the 2019 Qatar International Weightlifting Cup, where he was named the tournament's Best Athlete.
Commonly known as Meso Hassouna, Ibrahim is a two-time Junior World Champion (2017 and 2018). He competed in the 94 kg category until 2018 and 96 kg starting in 2018 after the International Weightlifting Federation reorganized the categories.
He holds the junior world record in the clean & jerk (225 kg) and total (397 kg) in the 96 kg division.
At the 5th International Qatar Cup in 2018, Fares swept gold in the 96 kg class and set a junior world record in the clean & jerk with 225 kg and a total of 397 kg.
He has also won two gold medals at the World Youth Championships and a silver at the 2018 Asian games.
With Ibrahim's achievement, Qatar has now won a total of six medals in its Olympic history, and the country is likely to add to the haul with World Champion high jumper Mutaz Barshim, Abderrahman Samba, the World 400m hurdles bronze medalist, 100m runner and Asian record-holder Femi Ogunode, and Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan, the World No.1-ranked beach volleyballers on the track for a podium finish in Tokyo.
--
Make sure to check out our social media to keep track of the latest content.
Instagram - @qatarliving
Twitter - @qatarliving
Facebook - Qatar Living
YouTube - qatarlivingofficial
