TOKYO: Gold medalist Qatar's Fares El-Bakh poses on the podium for the victory ceremony of the men's 96kg weightlifting competition during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Tokyo International Forum in Tokyo yesterday. - AFP

TOKYO: Weightlifter Fares El-Bakh shattered two Games records in Tokyo as he became Qatar's first Olympic champion in history yesterday. The 2019 world silver medalist dominated the men's 96kg, setting new marks for the clean and jerk (225kg) and total lift (402kg). "I'm very honored to have won a gold medal during these Olympics," said Bakh, 23.

"I hope that my performance was all right during these Games." Venezuela's Keydomar Sanchez took silver with Anton Pliesnoi finishing third. Bakh attempted but failed a world-record 232 on his final lift. Bakh won Qatar's sixth Olympic medal and second in weightlifting, after Saif Asaad's 105kg bronze at Sydney 2000. - AFP