Two weightlifting world records were shattered at the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan on Tuesday, 29 September, as China claimed two gold medals across the day's events. Uzbekistan and Iran also stepped onto the top step of the podium, making it a landmark session in the sport.

Djuraev Sets World Record in Men's 110kg

Uzbekistan's Akbar Djuraev produced a record-breaking performance in the men's 110kg division, lifting 197kg in the snatch and following it up with 226kg in the clean and jerk for a winning total of 423kg — a new world record. Turkmenistan's Shahzadbek Matyakubov took silver with 410kg, while China's Liu Huanhua claimed bronze with 405kg.

Djuraev was emphatic about the motivation behind his effort. 'This was our goal, to contribute our efforts to get a higher place in the medal table for our nation,' he said. 'I am very proud I could contribute to this.'

Notably, both Matyakubov and Liu competed through significant physical adversity. Matyakubov was making his competitive return after a two-year absence due to a back injury sustained ahead of the 2024 Asian Championships. 'I have been injured for two years. A long time without competing. Two discs in my back [went] before the [2024] Asian Championships. I was in pain for a long time,' he said. Liu, the 2024 Olympic champion in the men's 102kg division, competed despite a leg injury and failed his final clean-and-jerk attempt. 'I thought before the contest I would only manage one attempt each in the snatch and clean and jerk. My leg injury would not allow me to finish the competition,' Liu said. He credited his coach's encouragement for pushing him toward a medal. 'I gave it everything today, 200 percent of my effort,' he added. Liu also spoke of his evolving role within the Chinese team, saying: 'As I always say, give us a little time. We will grow rapidly. Have faith in China's weightlifting team.'

Second World Record Falls in Men's +110kg

The day's second world record arrived in the men's +110kg division, where Iraq's Ali Ammar Yusur Rubaiawi lifted 219kg in the snatch alone. Despite finishing with a total of 465kg, Rubaiawi had to settle for silver as Iran's Ali Davoudi clinched gold with a total of 466kg. Bahrain's Gor Minasyan took bronze with 440kg.

Li Wenwen's Comeback Gold in Women's +86kg

In one of the session's most dramatic reversals, China's Li Wenwen — the 2024 Olympic champion in the women's +81kg division — overturned a seven-kilogram deficit after the snatch to claim gold in the women's +86kg category. Li had snatched 140kg, trailing South Korea's Park Hyejeong who led on 147kg. Li then lifted 170kg in the clean and jerk for a winning total of 310kg, setting three Asian Games records in the process. Park took silver with 300kg, while Qatar's Ouisal Ikhlef claimed bronze with 273kg.

'Today I truly felt what it means when dreams come true,' Li said. 'I came here aiming for the gold. I told myself to stay composed and step onto the platform steadily.' Li had missed the Hangzhou Asian Games in 2023 due to an elbow injury, making her Nagoya gold all the more significant.

China's Wu Yan Takes Women's 86kg Gold

Earlier on Tuesday, China's Wu Yan won the women's 86kg title with a total of 273kg. Both Wu and Bahrain's Alina Marushchak lifted 124kg in the snatch, but Wu pulled ahead with a 149kg clean and jerk to secure the gold. Marushchak took silver with 272kg, while 17-year-old Mahsa Beheshty of Iran claimed bronze with 259kg on her first Asian Games appearance.

Wu, also competing at her first Asian Games, revealed she removed her shoes and rested briefly after the snatch to mentally reset. On being level with Marushchak after the snatch, she said she had deliberately avoided tracking her rival's score. 'Watching opponents makes me tense,' Wu explained. 'Weightlifting requires focusing solely on your own lifts.'

What This Means for the Medal Table

Tuesday's results reinforce China's dominance in Asian weightlifting, with two golds added to the national tally. Uzbekistan and Iran also demonstrated growing depth, with Djuraev's world record and Davoudi's gold signalling a competitive shift in the heavier divisions. The results from Nagoya will be closely watched as the Games continue, with more weightlifting medals still to be decided.