Malta's athletes made a strong showing at the WDFPF World Single-Lift Championships in Antwerp over the weekend. The Championships were held over three days and attracted over 300 powerlifters from all corners of the globe.
Day one kicked off with squats. 125kg category National Record holder in the Squat Emanuel Schembri (above & below) was Malta's sole offering in this event. After opening with 200kgs, he succeeded in breaking the World Junior Record of 215kgs with his 2nd attempt, raising the mark to 217.5kgs. The previous record was set earlier this year by the young Irishman Ben Loughrey. In his 3rd attempt, Schembri raised the bar even further with a 222.5kg lift. A Junior World Champion and World Record was a good start on day one for the MDFPA.
On Day two the venue was well and truly packed as some of the World's strongest drug-free benchers came forth to strut their stuff on the bench press. Nikolai Borg (below) entered the 67.5kg category earning a respectable 3rd place in the senior division. After nailing his first two attempts at 102kgs and 107.5kgs respectively, he just missed his final attempt at 112.5kgs which would have earned him a new National Record which is currently held by Sean Galea at 110kgs.
Day three saw Malta's largest contingent step onto the platform, starting with the only female of the team, Mariel Incorvaja. She did well to lift her 2nd attempt of 110kgs in good form in the Masters 1 category. Malta's youngest lifter Daniel Debono (below) turned up all set to challenge for the Junior World Record in the 67.5kg category which currently belongs to Farid Maachou of France and stands at 190kgs. Debono pulled 187.5kgs in good form but just missed his valiant attempt at 192.5kgs, securing his place as Junior World Champion in the 67.5kg class.
Senior lifter Matthew Muscat Inglott (below) has been very busy dieting and running lately. Usually an 82.5kg lifter, he managed to slim down to 73.5kgs to challenge for the Open 75kg class Deadlift title, with Dave Nicastro from the USA's 242.5kg World Record firmly insight. His opener and 2nd attempts of 220kgs and 235kgs respectively went up in good style, but his 3rd attempt at 242.5kgs stalled halfway up his thighs. He was content to settle for the 75kg Open World Championship title and a new National Record which previously belonged to Charles Degiorgio at 205kgs.
Malta's powerhouse Mario Mifsud (below) raised hell in the 125kgs class amidst a fearsome selection of very large and ferocious lifters. His successful 2nd attempt at 295kgs was enough to secure an open victory in his weight category. Although Mifsud's 3rd attempt at 300kgs somehow found its way into the fully upright position, it didn't get there the way the referees wanted it to. Unlucky, but a 295 was all he needed.
MDFPA President Tony Camilleri was pleased with the lifters' performances and is determined to submit a larger team to the full Powerlifting 3-lift Championships next year in Italy. A big slap on the back goes out to all the lifters who did us proud in Belgium!
Malta's athletes made a strong showing at the WDFPF World Single-Lift Championships in Antwerp over the weekend. The Championships were held over three days and attracted over 300 powerlifters from all corners of the globe.
Day one kicked off with squats. 125kg category National Record holder in the Squat Emanuel Schembri (above & below) was Malta's sole offering in this event. After opening with 200kgs, he succeeded in breaking the World Junior Record of 215kgs with his 2nd attempt, raising the mark to 217.5kgs. The previous record was set earlier this year by the young Irishman Ben Loughrey. In his 3rd attempt, Schembri raised the bar even further with a 222.5kg lift. A Junior World Champion and World Record was a good start on day one for the MDFPA.
On Day two the venue was well and truly packed as some of the World's strongest drug-free benchers came forth to strut their stuff on the bench press. Nikolai Borg (below) entered the 67.5kg category earning a respectable 3rd place in the senior division. After nailing his first two attempts at 102kgs and 107.5kgs respectively, he just missed his final attempt at 112.5kgs which would have earned him a new National Record which is currently held by Sean Galea at 110kgs.
Day three saw Malta's largest contingent step onto the platform, starting with the only female of the team, Mariel Incorvaja. She did well to lift her 2nd attempt of 110kgs in good form in the Masters 1 category. Malta's youngest lifter Daniel Debono (below) turned up all set to challenge for the Junior World Record in the 67.5kg category which currently belongs to Farid Maachou of France and stands at 190kgs. Debono pulled 187.5kgs in good form but just missed his valiant attempt at 192.5kgs, securing his place as Junior World Champion in the 67.5kg class.
Senior lifter Matthew Muscat Inglott (below) has been very busy dieting and running lately. Usually an 82.5kg lifter, he managed to slim down to 73.5kgs to challenge for the Open 75kg class Deadlift title, with Dave Nicastro from the USA's 242.5kg World Record firmly insight. His opener and 2nd attempts of 220kgs and 235kgs respectively went up in good style, but his 3rd attempt at 242.5kgs stalled halfway up his thighs. He was content to settle for the 75kg Open World Championship title and a new National Record which previously belonged to Charles Degiorgio at 205kgs.
Malta's powerhouse Mario Mifsud (below) raised hell in the 125kgs class amidst a fearsome selection of very large and ferocious lifters. His successful 2nd attempt at 295kgs was enough to secure an open victory in his weight category. Although Mifsud's 3rd attempt at 300kgs somehow found its way into the fully upright position, it didn't get there the way the referees wanted it to. Unlucky, but a 295 was all he needed.
MDFPA President Tony Camilleri was pleased with the lifters' performances and is determined to submit a larger team to the full Powerlifting 3-lift Championships next year in Italy. A big slap on the back goes out to all the lifters who did us proud in Belgium!
