LAHORE: The Pakistan Weightlifting Federation is fielding 20-year-old Abdullah Butt in the +105kg category of the IWF Grand Prix First International Fajr Cup in an attempt to qualify for this year’s Rio Olympics.

The event is being held in Iran, Tehran from May 30 to June 3.

Last month, Nooh Dastgir Butt participated at the Asian Weightlifting Champ­­io­nships which was also an Olympic qualification event for the Rio Olympics. He lifted 357kg in total and stood 12th in Asia.

Both Abdullah and Nooh were selected for the qualifying round due to their fine performances in the last 60th National Weightlifting Championships held here in May this year.

Sheraz Mohammad, general secretary of the KP Weightlifting Association, will accompany Pakistan team as coach/manager.

IWF executive member Hafiz Imran Butt will supervise these competitions where weightlifters from 30 countries will be participating.

Pakistan team will leave for Tehran on May 28 and return on June 4.

Published in Dawn, May 21st, 2016