Qatar’s Ouisal Ikhlef Dominates with Triple Gold at Islamic Games

Ouisal Ikhlef of Qatar showcased her exceptional skills at the 6th Islamic Solidarity Games in Riyadh, securing a remarkable triple gold medal victory in the Women’s +86kg weightlifting category. Her total lift of 277 kg included victories in the Snatch, Clean & Jerk, and the overall title, marking a significant achievement for both her and the Qatari team.

Outstanding Performance in Weightlifting

Competing at the Boulevard SEF Arena, Ikhlef set a commanding lead in the Clean & Jerk event. She successfully completed all three attempts, lifting 146 kg, 151 kg, and 160 kg. This performance allowed her to build a comfortable 10 kg advantage over her closest competitor.

In the battle for the podium, Kazakhstan’s Lyubov Kovalchuk secured the silver medal with a lift of 150 kg, while Uzbekistan’s Tursunoy Jabborova took home bronze with a lift of 138 kg.

Ikhlef’s domination continued in the Snatch, where she opened with a successful lift of 117 kg. Although she attempted to increase her lift to 121 kg and missed, her total of 277 kg across both events solidified her status as champion.

Kovalchuk mirrored Ikhlef’s opening Snatch lift of 117 kg in her final attempt to earn silver, while Jabborova secured bronze with a lift of 116 kg.

Acknowledgment and Future Aspirations

Following her victory, Ikhlef dedicated her medals to the nation of Qatar, expressing gratitude to the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) and the Qatar Weightlifting Federation for their support. “The competition was very tough, but good preparation and determination were behind this success,” she stated. “I dedicate these medals to everyone who stood by me, and I promise the Qatari public that I will continue working to raise the national flag high in future championships,” Ikhlef added.

The QOC’s First Vice President, Mohammed bin Yousef Al-Mana, who presented the medals, praised Ikhlef’s achievement as a historic moment for the sport in Qatar. He emphasized that her success reflects the growing strength and progress of weightlifting in the country.

Later that day, the Qatari delegation celebrated Ikhlef’s accomplishments at the Athletes’ Village, with a ceremony attended by Al-Mana, Deputy Director of the Qatari Delegation Khalifa Jaber Al Nuaimi, and other athletes.

Ikhlef’s triple gold medals contributed to Qatar’s rising tally in the competition, bringing their total to four and moving them into ninth place in the overall standings. Earlier in the event, swimmer Ali Tamer had secured Qatar’s first medal, a silver in the men’s 100-meter freestyle.

As the games continued, the Qatari volleyball team faced Bahrain in a bronze medal match, having previously concluded the round-robin stage in fourth place after a loss to Bahrain. The match was a chance for redemption and an opportunity to add to Qatar’s medal count.

In equestrian events, Qatar’s riders displayed impressive performances in show jumping, with Sheikh Ali bin Khalid Al Thani and Mohammed Khalifa Al Baker advancing to Round 2 after clean first rounds. Ghanim Nasser Al Qadi also progressed despite incurring four penalties.

Meanwhile, Qatar’s table tennis team faced a setback, as Mohamed Abdelwahab and Abdullah Abdelwahab were eliminated in the men’s doubles quarter-finals by Algeria’s Milan Djellouli and Mohieddine Bella in straight games.

As the games unfold, Qatar continues to showcase its athletic talents, with Ikhlef’s achievements standing out as a highlight of the competition.