Weightlifter Felix Halibekov wins Russian championship

Grozny, August 22, 2014. Daghestan native Felix Halibekov won the Russian championship in weightlifting taking place these days in Grozny, the capital of the Chechen Republic, says the Russian weightlifting federation’s official website.

August 20, on the second day of the competition, representing Moscow and St. Petersburg Halibekov won gold in the 69 kg weight. His snatch of 140 kg plus 166 kg in the clean and jerk made his first place in the double-event (306 kg). He did better in 2013 in Kazan, where he won the national champion with 315 kg (145 kg + 170 kg). Interestingly, this April, Halibekov was the first Dagestani weightlifter for a long time to win a medal at the European championships.

Daghestani’s Tofik Zagirov in the same weight made 270 kg (130 kg + 140 kg) placing seventh. The third Daghestani Timur Boltov didn’t qualify for the competition having failed in the weight-in. A day earlier, on the championships’ 1st day, Daghestan’s Hegani Ismailov and Assali Abdulgashumov finished second and third in the 62 kg weight showing 271 kg (118 kg + 153 kg) and 270 kg (120 kg + 150 kg).

Today, women will compete in the 63 and 69 kg weights. Here, Daghestan is presented by Fatima Umkahanova and Ayzanat Mirzaeva. There will also be a men’s championship in 77 kg weight with Daghestani Arsen Boraganov. In total, the Daghestan team has 11 athletes in the championships in Grozny scheduled to finish 25 August.