Men’s 60 kg at 2025 IWF World Championships, Førde: Wang Hao Leads China to Glory in a New Era of Lightweights

A Night of Precision, Power, and Pressure

The men’s 60 kg Group A session at the 2025 IWF World Championships in Førde, Norway, delivered everything weightlifting fans crave – world-class rivalry, emotional comebacks, and tactical brilliance. In a category reborn after the post-Olympic reshuffle, the competition showcased the next generation of featherweight stars redefining what’s possible at 60 kilograms.

The Category and Its Context

After years of weight class adjustments, the 60 kg division returns as one of the sport’s most exciting spectacles. The athletes in this lineup – many former 55 kg and 61 kg competitors – faced not just their rivals but also the challenge of a new bodyweight equilibrium.

With the world standards set at 141 kg in the snatch and 172 kg in the clean & jerk, the session was ripe for breakthroughs. For the first time since 2018, the lightest men’s category had a field stacked with both seasoned veterans and rising forces from Asia, Europe, and the Americas.

Meet the Athletes

The session brought together an electric mix of experience and youth:

• WANG Hao (CHN) – A mysterious figure before this championship, WANG entered with virtually no international record. Coaches whispered about his incredible domestic lifts, and his declared openers (135/160) turned heads long before he stepped on stage.
  
• SILACHAI Theerapong (THA) – The Thai team’s energetic frontrunner, a Pan-Asian medalist known for his attacking style and fierce crowd connection.
  
• GODERDZIE BERDELIDZE (GEO) – The lone Georgian representative, an explosive snatcher who carried his nation’s flag proudly despite a shrinking team this year.
  
• YUAN Hao (CHN) – A lesser-known teammate of WANG, making his first senior Worlds appearance after over a decade’s gap in records.
  
• ELARABY Elsayed A. (EGY) – The Egyptian veteran, known for his massive leg drive and clean technique.
  
• THIAGO FELIX DA SILVA (BRA) – Pan American champion from July 2025, now testing himself against the global elite.
  
• CHOLAKYAN Garnik (ARM) – Armenia’s powerhouse, dangerous in the snatch but struggling to find rhythm in clean & jerk.
  
• AL SALEEM Mansour A. (KSA) – The oldest in the field at 37, competing at the top level since 2010. His longevity remains a marvel.
  
• RUSEV Angel Hriskov (BUL) – A fan favorite for his explosive pull and infamous “helicopter elbows” – a lifter who always brings drama.
  
• CHHUM Gabriel John (USA) – The young American lifter showing promise with solid technical form and fearless attempts.
  

The Snatch: Strategy and Surprises

The snatch session opened with RUSEV (BUL) on 118 kg, his signature powerful pull marred by instability overhead. Commentators noted his shoulder issue – a chronic imbalance that often causes the right arm to press out – and indeed, his early miss hinted at a rough road ahead.

THIAGO FELIX DA SILVA (BRA), opening at 118 kg, found perfect rhythm – smooth, fast, and confident – before going on to make 123 kg on his third attempt. Behind him,
AL SALEEM (KSA) and ELARABY Elsayed (EGY) joined the action with precise lifts at 122 kg and 124 kg, both men showing the technical polish of veterans.

BERDELIDZE (GEO) lifted 128 kg, CHOLAKYAN (ARM) managed 123 kg, and YUAN Hao (CHN) impressed with 132 kg, pushing the tension upward as the battle for top positions intensified. YUAN’s 132 kg on his third was particularly elegant – a lift that would have earned a snatch medal in many past championships.

SILACHAI Theerapong opened with 125 kg and made 129 kg on his third attempt, lifting confidently as the Thai fans erupted.

Then came WANG Hao, the enigma. Opening at 133 kg, he made it look effortless. His second attempt, 138 kg, was decisive – a commanding lift that electrified the hall. He declined his third, already ahead of the field.

WANG’s 138 kg gave him the snatch gold, with SILACHAI (129 kg) and PANG (127 kg) rounding out the top three.

Snatch Medalists

🥇 WANG Hao (CHN) – 138 kg
🥈 SILACHAI Theerapong (THA) – 129 kg
🥉 PANG Un Chol – 127 kg

Clean & Jerk: Fireworks and Final Showdowns

Early on, AL SALEEM opened solidly at 144 kg but struggled with 145, eventually finishing with 145 kg. CHOLAKYAN (ARM) missed 157, bowing out early with 152.

THIAGO DA SILVA (BRA) showed composure with 155 kg, while ELARABY Elsayed (EGY) mirrored that at 154. Both men posted 278 kg totals, landing just outside podium range.

But the fight for medals was a three-way duel: WANG, SILACHAI, and PANG.

SILACHAI answered in kind. His opener at 160 was clean, his second at 167 perfect. Then he called for 170 kg – a lifetime best. The Thai crowd erupted as he powered it overhead for a good lift, jumping to silver in the total.

Then it was all eyes on WANG Hao. His opener at 157 kg looked routine, his 161 was just as crisp. For his third, 164 kg, he stormed to the platform with quiet focus, lifted with ease, and sealed the world title.

The final totals were breathtakingly close: WANG (302 kg), SILACHAI (299 kg), PANG (295 kg).

Clean & Jerk Medalists

🥇 SILACHAI Theerapong (THA) – 170 kg
🥈 PANG Un Chol – 168 kg
🥉 WANG Hao (CHN) – 164 kg

Total Results and Medal Recap

Records and Highlights

No official world records fell, though several lifts came within striking distance of the world standards – especially SILACHAI’s 170 kg clean & jerk and WANG’s 138 kg snatch, both just a few kilos shy of the marks.

What Made It Special

This 60 kg session embodied everything that makes weightlifting beautiful: diversity of style, tactical brilliance, and raw emotion. The crowd reactions, especially from Thailand’s and China’s fans, created an atmosphere reminiscent of an Olympic final.

Veteran Mansour Al Saleem earned widespread respect for still competing at world level after 15 years on the platform, while Rusev’s brave battle with injury reminded fans that not all victories are measured in medals.

About Torokhtiy Weightlifting & Torokhtiy Media

Torokhtiy Weightlifting is the world’s most complete hub for Olympic weightlifting and strength sport – from training programs, educational guides, and technique videos to statistics, calculators, and professional lift analyses.

We’ll continue delivering exclusive insights and coverage from the 2025 IWF World Championships in Førde – including interviews, behind-the-scenes stories, and detailed performance breakdowns on our Instagram and YouTube channels.

We’re also offering a special sale on training programs during this championship week – so hurry up and grab your plan to lift stronger, smarter, and cleaner.