15th April 2024
The Asia Pacific Championships took off in front of a standing-room-only crowd throughout two dynamic days at Australia’s dominant fitness trade show, AusFitness Expo.
Top lifter in the mens was Xi Tan from China, his 790kg subduing Fern Cook of Nauru 790kg to 787kg. in a showdown at 105kg. More big results came from Nauru, with Dyke Daoe totalling 647kg at 77kg and Angin Gadabu 712kg at 94kg. But it was Super AI Temaki who brought the house down with a near miss on 400kg Squat on the way to an 817kg Total, also for Nauru, finishing ahead of the Illustrated Man, Federico Sabelli of Italy.
Not lost in the big Totals were 20+kg improvers Ben Hogan 690kg at 94kg and Tevita Pongi 695kg at a light 120kg, now both favourites for the Aus Champs in July. Christian Stranges narrowed the gap on his nemesis Seth Snijder for the title of Oceania's strongest Junior, 713kg to 730kg. And at the other end of the maturity spectrum 80-year-old John Yuen benched an age World Record of 90kg.
In the Womens lifting Olivia Zhang was pared down to 53kg and took out Best Lifter over Rachel Green of New Zealand. Not far behind, with an age 50-54 World Record, was Sandra Alcorn. But trying to upstage Sandra was venerable age 70-74 Junko Matsuzaki, setting Australian Records.
The stage is now set for an even bigger AusFitness Expo Powerlifting show,in Sydney October 11-13, when the World Powerlifting Championships will take our sport to new heights.
For more information, images or interviews please contact:
Sarah O’Brien
P:
E: sarah.obrien@squareonepr.com.au