The National Senior Weightlifting Championships in Dhaka opened with a flurry of records, rivalries and rising stars, as the country’s finest lifters took centre stage at the National Handball Stadium. After two days of intense competition, Bangladesh Army have surged to the top of the medal table with five golds, while Bangladesh Ansar and VDP sit in second place with two golds.
The four-day event, featuring the 41st men’s and 18th women’s national senior competitions, began on 23 September and will run until 26 September. A total of eight events have been completed in the first two days, producing drama on the stage and setting the tone for the days ahead.
Army’s lifters have shown remarkable consistency, collecting not only five golds but also three silvers and one bronze. Their biggest rival, Bangladesh Ansar and VDP, have claimed two golds alongside five silvers and one bronze. Among the clubs, Gazipur’s Bir Muktijoddha Mohiuddin Rahman Weightlifting Club earned two bronzes, while Dinajpur’s Mahan Bijoyi Club secured a silver. Lifters from Kishoreganj, Naogaon, Bangladesh Teli and Sipahibagh in Dhaka have also made it onto the podium with bronze medals, proving that talent is spread across the country.
First day highlights
The opening day featured four women’s categories and plenty of drama. In the 48kg division, Bangladesh Ansar’s Mosammat Brishti Azad took gold with a combined lift of 142kg, edging past Dinajpur’s Ananya Roy and Gazipur’s Rina Akter. The Army hit back strongly in the 53kg, 58kg and 63kg events, with Marzia Akter Ikra, Rupa Akter and Sumaiya Akter all claiming gold. Their dominance was underlined by double podium finishes, as Army also collected silvers in the 58kg and 63kg divisions.
Second day results
Day two belonged to both Ansar and Army. Ansar’s Maria Akter Simanto lifted a stunning total of 209kg to win the 69kg event, with teammate Ujjal Biswas taking silver. In the heavier categories, Army’s strength showed again. Shanta struck gold in the 77kg with a total of 197kg, while Farzana Akter Ria added silver. Kazi Lipi dominated the 85kg class with 191kg, followed by teammate Tasmia Akter with bronze. In the women’s heaviest category, 87kg and above, Army’s Shayera Akter Misti claimed gold with 183kg, finishing ahead of Ansar’s Seyara Rahman Raiha and Dhaka’s Shyamli Islam.
The competition has already thrown up memorable individual performances, and with two more days to go, the battle for supremacy between Army and Ansar promises to remain fierce. For the smaller clubs, every medal has been celebrated as a triumph, proving that Bangladesh’s weightlifting base is growing wider every year.
