Armenian weightlifter Garnik Cholakyan debuts at the World Championship in Norway

Today, October 3, the Armenian men’s weightlifting team begins its campaign at the 2025 World Championships, held in the Norwegian city of Førde. The first to step onto the platform will be Armenia’s representative in the 60 kg category — 22-year-old Garnik Cholakyan. His performance will start at 21:30 Yerevan time.

In this weight category, three athletes are entered with the same total result of 295 kg: Pak Un Chol (North Korea), Garnik Cholakyan (Armenia), and Wang Hao (China). Experts believe the main battle for medals will unfold among them. Thai lifter Theerapong Silachai (292 kg) may also pose serious competition.

Participants (declared totals):

• PANG Un Chol (PRK) – 295 kg

• CHOLAKYAN Garnik (ARM) – 295 kg

• WANG Hao (CHN) – 295 kg

• SILACHAI Theerapong (THA) – 292 kg

• BERDELIDZE Goderdzi (GEO) – 288 kg

• ELARABY Elsayed Aly (EGY) – 285 kg

• YUAN Hao (CHN) – 283 kg

• RUSEV Angel Hriskov (BUL) – 283 kg

• AL SALEEM Mansour Abdulrahim (KSA) – 282 kg

• FELIX DA SILVA Thiago (BRA) – 281 kg

• CHHUM Gabriel John (USA) – 281 kg

For Garnik Cholakyan, this is his second World Championship. Last year, he finished 7th with a total of 280 kg, while earlier this year he won a bronze medal at the European Championships, lifting 275 kg in total.