Men’s 96 kg Recap – Asian Weightlifting Championships 2025

The Men’s 96 kg category at the 2025 Asian Weightlifting Championships in Jiangshan, China, was a highly anticipated session packed with elite athletes, strategic drama, and a three-way battle for gold. Held on May 13, it delivered personal bests, international breakthroughs, and big national pride.

The Stakes: Why 96 kg Matters

Although the IWF plans to revise Olympic categories after this season, the 96 kg division remains one of the most fiercely contested in Asian weightlifting. With multiple former champions, rising talents, and a long list of capable medal contenders, the field was stacked.

Meet the Athletes

ALI ALIPOUR: The 2024 Asian Champion in the 89 kg class, known for his huge clean & jerk potential. Moved up to 96 kg and brought confidence and momentum.

WON Jongbeom (KOR): Technically gifted Korean lifter with consistent totals in recent Asian events. His past battles have often come down to final attempts.

MOEINI SEDEH Alireza: Solid snatcher with a personal best of 180 kg. Typically consistent and calm under pressure.

QIAN Feixiang (CHN): Representing the host nation, Qian had previously totaled 385 kg domestically. A young lifter with serious potential.

Other notables included SUMPRADIT Sarat (THA), a powerhouse veteran; STAROVERKIN Kirill (KAZ); HSIEN Meng-En (TPE); and Rustem ANNABERDIYEV (TKM).

Snatch Recap: Moeini Shocks with 180 kg

The snatch competition set the stage with intense jockeying from the outset. CHN’s QIAN opened with 168 kg and climbed to 173 kg, showing sharp form. Thailand’s SUMPRADIT hit 170, but couldn’t improve on his final attempt. WON of Korea and STAROVERKIN of Kazakhstan both secured solid lifts at 170 and 171 kg respectively.

But it was MOEINI SEDEH who stole the spotlight. The Iranian hit 180 kg on his third attempt, showcasing power and confidence that silenced the crowd and gave him the snatch gold.

Snatch Medalists:

• 🥇 MOEINI SEDEH Alireza (IRI) – 180 kg
• 🥈 ALIPOUR Ali (IRI) – 174 kg
• 🥉 QIAN Feixiang (CHN) – 173 kg

Full Snatch Results:

Clean & Jerk Recap: Alipour and Won Go All-In

In the clean and jerk, the real battle began. Korea’s WON Jongbeom wowed the crowd with a perfectly timed 215 kg third attempt, giving him a massive 385 kg total. THA’s SUMPRADIT lifted a strong 206 kg, while China’s QIAN finished with a technically clean 207 kg.

But it was ALIPOUR who delivered the defining lift. Coming into his second attempt with 216 kg on the bar, he hoisted it overhead to the roar of the arena — a personal best and the lift that secured him the total gold. He skipped his third attempt, knowing 390 kg was enough to win.

Clean & Jerk Medalists:

• 🥇 ALIPOUR Ali (IRI) – 216 kg
• 🥈 WON Jongbeom (KOR) – 215 kg
• 🥉 QIAN Feixiang (CHN) – 207 kg

Full C&J Results:

Total Standings and Final Podium

With his powerful clean and jerk, Ali Alipour secured his second straight Asian title, this time in a higher weight class. Korea’s WON Jongbeom kept the pressure on until the very end, while Moeini’s dominant snatch carried him to overall bronze.

Total Medal Recap:

• 🥇 Total Gold – ALIPOUR Ali (IRI) – 390 kg (174/216)
• 🥈 Total Silver – WON Jongbeom (KOR) – 385 kg (170/215)
• 🥉 Total Bronze – MOEINI SEDEH Alireza (IRI) – 383 kg (180/203)

Full Total Results:

Highlights & Talking Points

• China medaled in both lifts but missed the total podium by just 3 kg.
• Moeini’s 180 kg snatch was the best of the competition and nearly a Junior Asian record.
• This session featured the deepest field yet: 5 athletes above 375 kg total.

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