Islamabad, October 16, 2024: As the first Pakistani to win seven gold medals at the Commonwealth Powerlifting Championship in Sun City, South Africa, Nooh Butt created history.
Nooh Dastgir Butt had already broken the previous record in the powerlifting competition last week, lifting 860 kg. After lifting 850 kilograms in the +120 kg class, he maintained his remarkable performance in the equipped powerlifting category. During the equipped events, he squatted 340 kg, bench-pressed 210 kg, and deadlifted 300 kilograms.
In the previous traditional powerlifting competition, Nooh outperformed rivals from Wales and Sri Lanka with a total lift of 860 kg.
The Pakistan Powerlifting Federation said in a news release that the competition was held in Sun City from October 4 to October 13.
Despite his exceptional achievement, Nooh’s international return has silenced his detractors, especially those in the Pakistan Weightlifting Federation, who had prevented him from adequately training and qualifying for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. He had previously set records in Birmingham in 2022 and won a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games.
Yet Nooh Butt was entangled in the internal strife of the Pakistan Weightlifting Federation, which included a significant drug scandal that ruined the prospects of honorable competitors like him instead of being supported for his Olympic campaign.
Also read: What a moment for Pakistan at CWG22 ; Nooh Butt makes history in weightlifting
Nooh’s exceptional powerlifting success has cemented his place among Pakistan’s top sportsmen on the global scene despite such obstacles. He won one bronze and seven gold medals in Sun City.
Sohail Sisters’ Brilliant Performance in Commonwealth Championship
Furthermore, Pakistani powerlifters Veronika Sohail, Sybil Sohail, and Twinkle Sohail created an impression by taking home medals at the Commonwealth Powerlifting Championships for the first time.
Twinkle won a silver medal in the 84 kg class, Veronika grabbed bronze in the 52 kg class, and Sybil won gold in the 47 kg class in the classic events.
But the Sohail sisters shined in the equipped events. Together, they took home 12 gold medals in the equipped events, including three in each weight category for the squat, bench press, and deadlift.