LAHORE: Nooh Dastgir Butt, Pakistan’s star weightlifter, smashed two national records on Monday to help his department Wapda win the 20th Men’s National Classic Powerlifting and Bench Press Championship title here at the Punjab University Gymnasium Hall.

Overall, Wapda bagged 10 gold and three silver medals to earn 105 points that gave them top finish at the national event. Sindh claimed (48 points) second spot and Police (40) third.

Nooh set new records in 120+ kg category by lifting 330kg and 208kg bench press category by bench pressing of 209kg.

Nooh’s Wapda mates Fahad Butt, Asim Shehzad, Tanvir Haider and Rizwanullah Lodhi, clinched gold medals in 59, 66, 102 and 120kg categories, respectively.

Wapda earned three silvers through Arif Ali Bhatti (74kg), Ashfaq Ahmed (83kg) and Rana Qasir (94kg).

In the Master’s category, Wapda grabbed all four gold medals while they also won one gold in the junior category.

Teams from Wapda, Police, Punjab, Sindh, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Islamabad, Gilg­it-Baltistan, Khyber Pakh­tunkhwa, Baloc­histan, Special Olympics Pakistan and University of Punjab, the hosts, featured in the championship.

Published in Dawn, March 5th, 2024