Asian champion Akbar Djuraev loses to Garik Karapetyan in a virtual clash of titans
Right after the conclusion of the 2025 European Weightlifting Championships in Moldova — where Armenian athletes shined — the 2025 Asian Championships took place in the Chinese city of Jiangshan. Armenian fans were especially focused on the 109 kg weight category, where Tokyo 2020 Olympic Champion Akbar Djuraev of Uzbekistan competed.
The 25-year-old Djuraev confirmed his world-class status by winning three gold medals and lifting a total of 406 kg (183 in snatch and 223 in clean & jerk). However, this total is 5 kg less than Garik Karapetyan’s performance at the 2025 European Championships — 411 kg (185+226).
Thus, in this virtual showdown between Europe’s and Asia’s top lifters, the Armenian currently comes out on top.
Interestingly, the silver medal at the European final also went to an Armenian — Simon Martirosyan — who lifted the exact same result as Djuraev in China: 406 kg (181+225). Let’s recall that it was Simon and Akbar who battled for gold at the Tokyo Olympics, where the Uzbek lifter came out victorious with a new Olympic record — 430 kg. Simon took silver with a total of 423 kg.
A decisive rematch may occur at the World Championships, which will be held in Norway from October 1 to 10. There, it will be revealed who is truly the strongest in the world in the 109 kg weight class — which will officially become 110 kg due to category changes.
2025 Asian Championships, 109 kg
Akbar Djuraev (Uzbekistan) — 406 kg (183+223)
Sharofiddin Amriddinov (Uzbekistan) — 395 kg (181+214)
Jang Yong-hak (South Korea) — 390 kg (178+212)
2025 European Championships, 109 kg
Garik Karapetyan (Armenia) — 411 kg (185+226)
Simon Martirosyan (Armenia) — 406 kg (181+225)
Luis Lauret (Romania) — 390 kg (180+210)
