A second too late: Ammar’s world-record snatch goes in vain as Li wins gold

By the Editorial Team · Thursday, October 1, 2026

Double Olympic champion Li Wenwen won her first Asian Games gold in the women’s +86kg weightlifting event, while Iraq’s Ali Ammar set a snatch world record but finished second in the men’s above 110kg category after a timing error cost him a crucial lift. Ammar’s narrow defeat underscores the fine margins in elite competition, as Li’s victory cements her continued dominance in the sport.

Double Olympic weightlifting champion Li Wenwen secured her first Asian Games gold medal on Tuesday while Iraq’s Ali Ammar narrowly missed out on the top podium spot despite setting a snatch world record in the men’s above 110kg category.

At the Nagoya City Trade and Industry Center, Ammar lifted 219 kilograms in the snatch, establishing a new world record and gaining an early lead. However, in the clean and jerk phase, he was unable to surpass 246 kilograms on his second attempt, ultimately finishing with a total of 465 kilograms. This left him just one kilogram behind Iran’s Ali Davoudi, who won gold with a combined total of 466 kilograms.

Ammar’s final clean-and-jerk attempt became a critical moment defined by a timing mishap. As the clock counted down, confusion within Ammar’s team and a delay caused by adjusting his belt prevented him from completing the lift before his allotted time expired. “The last attempt was really important for me. Unfortunately, the time was running out. I missed the opportunity,” Ammar said after the event. He added that he had believed he had two minutes to prepare but ran out of time due to the belt adjustment, which cost him about 10 seconds. Despite his disappointment, Ammar expressed determination to learn from the experience.

In the women’s +86kg event, Li Wenwen delivered a commanding performance to claim gold with a total lift of 310 kilograms. While her total was below her own world record of 335 kilograms, Li’s result was sufficient to secure victory ahead of South Korea’s Park Hye-jeong, who lifted 300 kilograms. Li’s win adds to her previous titles, including the above 87kg crown at the Tokyo Olympics and the above 81kg gold at the Paris Olympics.

Known for her unusual habit of sleeping on the floor before competitions, Li was visibly emotional after her victory. She shed tears before celebrating jubilantly on the podium. “I have done a very good job today, I came here just for this medal,” Li said, expressing satisfaction with her performance.

The events highlighted both the highs and lows of elite weightlifting competition, with Li’s steady dominance contrasting Ammar’s narrow miss despite a record-setting effort.

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