Belarus’ Tsikhantsou wins bronze, earns Olympic berth at 2024 IWF World Cup

Yauheni Tsikhantsou has secured the first medal and second Olympic license in weightlifting for Belarus at the ongoing 2024 IWF World Cup in Phuket, Thailand, BelTA has learned.

Before the event in Thailand Yauheni Tsikhantsou ranked 5th in the world in the 102kg weight category. At the 2024 IWF World Cup the Belarusian lifted a total of 400kg (183kg+217kg) to clinch bronze and rose to the 3rd place in the rankings.

Yauheni Tsikhantsou, a world champion and two-time European champion, competed in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. Tickets to the Paris Olympics were secured by ten best athletes in this weight category. Gold went to China's Li Huanhua (413kg), the silver – to Armenia’s Garik Karapetyan (401kg). Belarus’ Siarhei Sharankou lifted a total of 382kg to place tenth.

The day before Belarus’ Siuzanna Valodzka earned the Olympic license in the women's 71kg category, qualifying from the ninth place. Eduard Ziaziulin has a good chance for a trip to Paris. The Belarusian weightlifter is currently seventh in the world in the 109kg weight category. Eduard Ziaziulin will compete for the World Cup medals on 11 April. The tournament in Phuket has gathered more than 450 athletes from 109 countries.