Tokyo: Qatar’s Fares Ibrahim made history winning the country’s first Olympic gold medal in weightlifting competitions on Saturday.

Fares Ibrahim put up 177kg in the snatch before sliding into the clean and jerk and setting an Olympic record in that lift with a weight of 225kg.

Venezuela’s Keydomar Vallenilla Sanchez took the silver medal while Georgia’s Anton Pliesnoi clinched the bronze medal.

I’m very proud, I’m over the moon after winning this gold medal at Tokyo Olympics,” said Fares. “I hope that my performance was all right during these Games.”

“I’m so happy that HH the Amir has called me, as his call is a new motivation will push me ahead for greater achievements in the upcoming events.” He added.

Fares also dedicated this achievement to Qatari people and to all fans and those helped him to bring this glorious gold medal.

The QOC Secretary General H.E. Jassim bin Rashid Al-Buenain congratulated the HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, the Qatari government and   H.E. QOC President Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al-Thani on the outstanding achievement of team Qatar star Fares Ibrahim who claimed the Men’s weightlifting 96kg gold medal at Tokyo Olympics on Saturday.

Al-Buenain said that this historic gold medal and the new Olympic record that were secured by our rising star Fares Ibrahim is an outcome of a significant work done by the Qatar Weightlifting and Fencing Federation in compliance with the QOC strategy.

From his part, the President of the Qatar the Weightlifting and Fencing President. Mohamed Yousef Al Mana dedicated Fares Ibrahim’s gold medal to HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, H.E. QOC President Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani and to the Qatari people.

Source: Qatar Olympic Committee