LAHORE, May 27: Usman Akbar of Railways and Muhammad Ali of Wapda shared the honours, winning a gold medal each as competitions in two weight categories were completed on the first day of the 53rd national weightlifting championship on Friday. Usman, last year’s silver medalist, lifted a total weight of 218kgs to earn the first gold medal of his career in the 56kg category.

He lifted 95kgs in the snatch event and 123kg in clean and jerk to elevate himself from the second to first.

Abdullah Ghafoor of Punjab, last year’s gold medalist in the same event, went down for a silver medal when he could lift 215kgs — 100kgs in snatch and 115 in clean and jerk.

Muhammad Asif of Army with a total weight of 175 bagged a bronze medal. In 62Kg category, Muhammad Ali of Wapda, last year’s gold medalist again excelled to earn another gold medal to retain the title.

He lifted a total weight of 245 — 110 in the snatch and 135 in the clean and jerk.

Ali won with a comfortable lead as Aamir Ali of Railways claimed the silver medal with aggregate 227 — 105 in snatch and 122 in clean and jerk.

Sohaib Habib of Punjab earned the bronze medal lifting a total weight of 212 (92 snatch, 120 clean and jerk).

Except Balochistan, nine other units affiliated with the Pakistan Weightlifting Federation are competing in the two-day event.

Results (name of player, unit, snatch, clean and jerk, total):

56kgs: Usman Akbar (Railways) 95-123-218.

Abdullah Ghafoor (Punjab) 100-115-215.

Muhammad Asif (Army) 80- 95-175.

Salahuddin (NWFP) 65- 94-159.

Shafaqat Gulzar (Islamabad)68- 84-152.

Fawad Ahmed (HEC) 65- 85-150.

62kgs. Muhammad Ali (Wapda) 110-135-245.

Aamir Ali (Railways) 105-122-227.

Sohaib Habib (Punjab) 92-120-212.

Umar Farooq (Sindh) 95-115-210.

Shafiq Chohan (Islamabad) 65- 80-145.