2025 Weightlifting World Championships: Entry Totals and Favorites

From October 2 to 11, the Norwegian city of Førde will become the stage for the main weightlifting tournament of the year – the 2025 World Championships. More than 400 participants from all leading countries will arrive to compete for medals and begin their journey to the 2028 Olympic Games. The tournament promises to be one of the most intense in recent years: many weight categories have brought together several evenly matched favorites.

This will also be the first World Championships in the new weight categories.

Key Storylines by Weight Categories

Special attention should be paid to the Armenian team, which comes to Førde as one of the overall favorites of the championships. Garnik Cholakyan (60 kg) with a 295 kg entry total has every chance to break into the medal fight in the lightest category. In the 71 kg division, Gor Sahakyan (350 kg) stands out as the leader of the entry list. In the middleweights, hopes are tied to Suren Grigoryan (88 kg, 375 kg), as well as Garik Karapetyan and Simon Martirosyan (both 110 kg, 420 kg), who are ready to challenge Uzbek Olympic champions Djuraev and Nurudinov. In the super-heavyweight class, Varazdat Lalayan (460 kg) is considered one of the two main contenders for gold, alongside Gor Minasyan, competing for Bahrain. Thus, the Armenian national team may count on several championship titles and could become one of the most successful teams of the tournament.

China has sent a second-tier squad to Norway, since the country’s top weightlifters are preparing for the National Games of China in November 2025.

Olympic Champions in Førde

The World Championships in Førde gathered not only ranking leaders but also a constellation of Olympic champions from three different Games. In total, there are six of them, and their clashes promise to become the highlight of the tournament.

• 94 kg: Three Olympic winners will step on stage – Kianoush Rostami (Rio 2016, 85 kg), Meso Hassona (Tokyo 2020, 96 kg), and Karlos Nasar (Paris 2024, 89 kg). This generational showdown is set to be historic. At 21, Nasar is the main favorite: he has set more than 20 world records in the last two years, and in April at the European Championships he lifted 417 kg, which would surpass the new 94 kg standards with a comfortable margin. For Hassona and Rostami, simply staying within 15 kg of the Bulgarian would be an achievement: their best career totals (404 and 403 kg) were achieved in heavier categories.

• 110 kg: All eyes are on the clash of Uzbek titans. Ruslan Nurudinov (Rio 2016, 105 kg) is returning after injuries; last winter in Bahrain, he lifted a stunning 242 kg in the clean and jerk – a world record that left rivals far behind. His main challenger is his teammate and rival, Akbar Djuraev (Tokyo 2020, 109 kg). The young champion has already been showing world-record-level numbers in training, and the standards 195–237–427 may fall right in Førde.

• 79 kg: Another Olympic duel. Here, 20-year-old Indonesian Rizki Juniansyah, champion in Paris, will face teammate Rahmat Erwin and North Korea’s Ri Chong Song. All three have already surpassed world standards in different lifts, promising a true world-class spectacle.

The championship will also be unique in its age range: from 14-year-old Mohammed Alotaibi (Kuwait), competing in the 60 kg “B” group, to 40-year-old Kamil Kucera (Czech Republic), entered in the super-heavyweights.

Entry Totals and Favorites

Men

60 kg A
Three athletes have the same entry total of 295 kg – Pak Un Chol (PRK), Garnik Cholakyan (ARM), and Wang Hao (CHN). Most likely, this trio will decide the medals. A dangerous outsider is Theerapong Silachai (THA, 292).

• RUSEV Angel Hriskov (BUL) – 283

• PANG Un Chol (PRK) – 295

• CHOLAKYAN Garnik (ARM) – 295

• AL SALEEM Mansour Abdulrahim (KSA) – 282

• SILACHAI Theerapong (THA) – 292

• CHHUM Gabriel John (USA) – 281

• WANG Hao (CHN) – 295

• FELIX DA SILVA Thiago (BRA) – 281

• BERDELIDZE Goderdzi (GEO) – 288

• ELARABY Elsayed Aly (EGY) – 285

• YUAN Hao (CHN) – 283

65 kg A
Four participants have entry totals above 310 kg: Ozbek (Turkey, 320), Pak Myong Jin (PRK, 315), Morris Hampton (USA, 315), and Mosquera (Colombia, 312). Ozbek is the favorite, while the fight for silver and bronze will be extremely tight.

• BARDALEZ TUISIMA Luis David (PER) – 305

• MORRIS Hampton Miller (USA) – 315

• HARDAL Ferdi (TUR) – 310

• MOSQUERA VALENCIA Francisco (COL) – 312

• MUHAMAD Aznil Bin Bidin (MAS) – 300

• IRAWAN Eko Yuli (INA) – 300

• PAK Myong Jin (PRK) – 315

• MUTHUPANDI RAJA (IND) – 305

• ADVENTINO Geovani Leonardo (INA) – 305

• OZBEK Muhammed Furkan (TUR) – 320

71 kg A
Armenian Gor Sahakyan with 350 kg is the main favorite. Closest competitors are Yusuf Genc (346, TUR), He Yueji (345, CHN), and Weeraphon Wichuma (342, THA). At the European Championships, Genc took gold while Sahakyan was second, but the outcome may change here.

• MIYAMOTO Masanori (JPN) – 340

• RUSTAMOV Isa (AZE) – 337

• KAHRIMAN Kaan (TUR) – 340

• RI Won Ju (PRK) – 340

• SAHAKYAN Gor (ARM) – 350

• WICHUMA Weeraphon (THA) – 342

• OLIVARES PAEZ Sebastian (COL) – 340

• GENC Yusuf Fehmi (TUR) – 346

• HE Yueji (CHN) – 345

79 kg A
Brutal competition: Mohamed Elsayed Abdelrahman (EGY) and Ri Chong Song (PRK) with 370 kg share favorite status. For bronze, the fight will be between Reyes (ITA), Son (KOR), Cahoy (USA), and others.

• REYES MARTINEZ Oscar (ITA) – 360

• JUNIANSYAH Rizki (INA) – 350

• CAHOY Caden Taiyo (USA) – 355

• SUEPSUAN Natthawut (THA) – 352

• SON Hyeonho (KOR) – 360

• NING Gan (CHN) – 351

• ELSAYED ABDELRAHMAN Mohamed (EGY) – 370

• SUHAREVS Ritvars (LAT) – 350

• YEMBERDI Yedige (KAZ) – 350

• RI Chong Song (PRK) – 370

88 kg A
Colombian Yeison Lopez (390 kg) clearly stands out. His main rivals: Robu (MDA, 380) and Ro Kwang Ryol (PRK, 380). Suren Grigoryan (ARM, 375) can also intervene. Andranik Karapetyan, now competing for Bosnia and Herzegovina, is a medal threat in the snatch.

94 kg A
Here the main favorite is Olympic champion and multiple record holder Karlos Nasar, who previously competed at 89 kg. Also returning to the world stage is 34-year-old Olympic champion (2016) Kianoush Rostami, who has switched nationality from Iran to Kosovo. Rostami has entered an impressive 390 kg and will try to challenge Nasar.

• OZTURK Emre (TUR) – 381

• ABOKAHLA Karim Ibrahim Ibrahim Ali (EGY) – 387

• ROSTAMI Kianoush (KOS) – 390

• NASAR Karlos May (BUL) – 390

• ALIPOUR Ali (IRI) – 390

• FRIEDRICH Raphael (GER) – 381

• MOEINI SEDEH Alireza (IRI) – 385

110 kg A
A true battle of titans: Djuraev (UZB) and Nurudinov (UZB) – both at 421 kg. Facing them are Armenians Garik Karapetyan and Simon Martirosyan (both 420). Four superstars in one category – this is where the tournament’s biggest sensation may be born.

• DADASHBAYLI Dadash (AZE) – 405

• BACHA Aymen (TUN) – 411

• DJURAEV Akbar (UZB) – 421

• KARAPETYAN Garik (ARM) – 420

• RUIZ I VELASCO Marcos (ESP) – 406

• NURUDINOV Ruslan (UZB) – 421

• MARTIROSYAN Simon (ARM) – 420

• NASIRI Alireza (IRI) – 415

• HRISTOV Hristo (BUL) – 405

• LAURET RODRIGUEZ Luis Manuel (ROU) – 405

+110 kg A
The fight here will be among three lifters: Varazdat Lalayan (ARM) and Gor Minasyan (BRN) – both at 460 kg, and Ali Davoudi (IRI) at 440. Others lag far behind.

• TURMANIDZE Bakari (GEO) – 410

• LALAYAN Varazdat (ARM) – 460

• WILLIAMS Aaron Andrew (USA) – 412

• DAVOUDI Ali (IRI) – 440

• LEE Yangjae (KOR) – 410

• ALNAJJAR M Moayad M (UAE) – 406

• SONG Yeonghwan (KOR) – 410

• LITI David Andrew (NZL) – 411

• MINASYAN Gor Tigran A. (BRN) – 460

• SHARIFIKELARIJANI Ayat (IRI) – 440

Women

48 kg A

• SUKCHAROEN Thanyathon (THA) – 197

• MIRABAI Chanu Saikhom (IND) – 205

• RAMOS Rosegie (PHI) – 190

• LIN Cheng Jing (TPE) – 192

• MONTERO RAMOS Ludia Marguiela (CUB) – 190

• RI Song Gum (PRK) – 205

• ORTIZ Dahiana (DOM) – 190

• ZHU Qiulian (CHN) – 200

• SUZUKI Rira (JPN) – 193

• LI Shumiao (CHN) – 197

• FANG Wan-Ling (TPE) – 190

53 kg A

• CHEN Guan-Ling (TPE) – 203

• KHAMBAO Surodchana (THA) – 205

• OZKAN Cansel (TUR) – 202

• CAMBEI Mihaela-Valentina (ROU) – 205

• DU Meiyuan (CHN) – 210

• MEGO CONTRERAS Shoely Mabel (PER) – 201

• HIGA Sei (JPN) – 211

• KANG Hyon Gyong (PRK) – 220

58 kg A

• TANG Yuxuan (CHN) – 221

• ULREY Miranda Eleanor (USA) – 215

• BENTELE Livia (GER) – 223

• XU Wenwen (CHN) – 230

• CHUNG Shuaijun (KOR) – 222

• GOMEZ Karen (COL) – 220

• AMALIA Oktavia (INA) – 219

• RICHARDS Millie (GBR) – 218

63 kg A

• SINISTERRA TORRES Yenny (COL) – 235

• CHARRON Maude G (CAN) – 232

• OZKAN Aysel (TUR) – 226

• GOMEZ VALDIVIA Janeth (MEX) – 231

• RI Suk (PRK) – 245

• ANDO Elreen Ann (PHI) – 240

• COTRUTA Andreea (ROU) – 226

• SHAFT Sophia Plum (USA) – 231

• SERAM Nirupama Devi (IND) – 225

• CHIACCHIO Martina (ITA) – 225

• ESTEP Katharine Emily (USA) – 231

69 kg A

• MACROHON Kristel (PHI) – 240

• GUDE Line Ravn (DEN) – 232

• SONG Kuk Hyang (PRK) – 265

• SEGURA GRUESO Ingrid Vanesa (BRN) – 243

• MATIAS MARCIAL Fransheska Mari (DOM) – 235

• SIMONEAU Charlotte (CAN) – 240

• RODRIGUEZ QUINTERO Julieth Alejandra (COL) – 247

• VALODZKA Siuzanna (AIN) – 245

• SELEMAIA Olivia Shalom (NZL) – 240

• SCHWEIZER Lisa Marie (GER) – 236

• GUSALOVA Zarina (AIN) – 240

77 kg A

• YLISOINI Anna Janette Tellervo (FIN) – 244

• DOMBROVSKA Iryna (UKR) – 243

• JAMALI GALEH Yekta (WRT) – 245

• PAREDES ARREAGA Bella Nancy (ECU) – 246

• REEVES Olivia Lynn (USA) – 267

• AHMED Sara Samir Elsayed Mohamed (EGY) – 270

• FUENTES ZAVALA Aremi (MEX) – 250

• JARQUIN GONZALEZ Jessica (MEX) – 245

• SANCHEZ PERINAN Mari Leivis (COL) – 251

• STURLUDOTTIR Eyglo Fanndal (ISL) – 245

• ROGERS Martha Ann (USA) – 250

86 kg A

• RIVAS MOSQUERA Valeria (COL) – 250

• NAKAJIMA Motoka (JPN) – 250

• NGAKE Madias Dodo Nzesso (GBR) – 249

• NAGASHIMA Wakana (JPN) – 250

• CIKAMATANA Eileen (AUS) – 260

• MEJIA PEGUERO Yudelina (DOM) – 270

• KOANDA Solfrid (NOR) – 260

• LO Ying-Yuan (TPE) – 251

+86 kg A

• ZHU Linhan (CHN) – 255

• AYOVI CABEZAS Lisseth Betzaida (ECU) – 256

• CAMPBELL Emily Jade (GBR) – 282

• THEISEN LAPPEN Mary Anne (USA) – 275

• PARK Hyejeong (KOR) – 290

• SARRIA RUIZ Marifelix (CUB) – 280

• WANG Ling-Chen (TPE) – 255

• SON Younghee (KOR) – 280