Monday, 21st November
Powerlifting in Viborg
Many of the world's strongest men and women descended on the city of Viborg over the previous week for the World Equipped Open Powerlifting Championships. An incredible twelve new world records were established. Starting with Taiwan's Sen Yang (120 kg), a squat record was set of 440.5 kg. Gregory Johnson (93 kg) of the U.S. Virgin Islands completed a deadlift of 371.5 kg, while Ukraine's Kostiantyn Musiienko (93 kg) bench pressed 351.5 kg. Staying in the 93 kg class, Nicki Lentz of Denmark squatted 405 kg. In the 84+ kg class, Norway's Hildeborg Hugdal bench pressed 230 kg, while Canada's Rhaea Stinn (84 kg) achieved 228 kg. Ukraine's Daria Rusanenko (84 kg) set a squat record of 275.5 kg. Moving to the 83 kg class, Ukraine's Mykola Barannik achieved a squat of 375.5 kg., with Germany's Sonja Stefanie Krüger (76 kg) squatting 280.5 kg. Taiwan's Tsung-Ting Hsieh (66 kg) achieved a bench press of 217.5 kg, while in the same class France's Hassan El Belghiti achieved a deadlift of 318.5 kg. Rounding up the world records, Poland's Zuzanna Kula (52 kg) completed a squat of 215 kg.
Sofia hosted the 36th FIG Trampoline Gymnastics World Championships where Japan's Mori Hikaru earned two world titles in a space of an hour on the final day. These were in the Synchronised Trampoline Women with Uyama Megu, and in the Trampoline Women. The Synchronised Trampoline Men was claimed by Germany's Fabian Vogel and Matthias Pfleiderer. Men's and Women's Team Trampoline titles went to Portugal and China. Australia's Ethan McGuinness won the Men's Tumbling, with the Women's Tumbling title going to Britain's Comfort Yeates. The Double Mini-Trampoline titles were claimed by New Zealand's Bronwyn Dibb and USA's Ruben Padilla. New Zealand's Dylan Schmidt won the Trampoline Men, with Great Britain taking the the All-Around Team championship.
The Professional Windsurfing Association completed the World Tour in Yokosuka, Japan, Overall world titles have been taken by Marion Mortefon of France and Maciek Rutkowski of Poland.
Rugby League completed World Cup Finals over the weekend. Great Britain are the wheelchair champions defeating France 28-24 in Manchester on Friday. The Old Trafford stadium hosted the women's and men's finals on Saturday. It was a double for Australia as the women thumped New Zealand 54-4, while the men overcame a spirited Samoa 30-10.
In motor racing news, Formula One has announced the launch of an all-female series. The F1 Academy will consist of five teams of three cars contesting seven events featuring three races. The calendar has not been announced, but will most likely feature in conjunction with selected Formula One weekends. The popular Formula Drift Japan concluded over the weekend with the season crown going to Hokuto Matsuyama.
Stubai hosted a Freeski Slopestyle World Cup with titles going to Norway's Johanne Killi and Birk Ruud. The women's Alpine World Cup stopped at Levi over the weekend with USA's Mikaela Shiffrin taking the slalom title. At the IBSF Europe Cup women's monobob, Margot Boch (FRA) claimed two victories in Lillehammer while also winning the 2-woman bobsleigh title.
Switzerland's Christa von Niederhaüsern and the Netherland's Niels Bensink are the Red Bull Pump Track World Champions, an annual BMX championship that was hosted this year in Santiago de Chile. In the second round of the UCI Track Champions League, Endurance titles went to Jennifer Valente (USA) and Mathias Guillemette (CAN). The Sprint titles were claimed by Martha Bayona (COL) and Harrie Lavreysen (NED). To round off the cycling news, Michael Vanthourenhout (BEL) and Puck Pieterse (NED) won the next round of the 2022-2023 UCI Cyclo-Cross World Cup in Belgium on Sunday.
Korea's Yelim Kim skated to women’s gold in Sapporo, winning the first ISU Grand Prix Figure Skating title for her nation in 13 years. Canada's Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Nikolaj Soerensen claimed their first gold medal at the same event. Japan's Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara bagged their second gold medal with a strong performance on home ice, while compatriot Shoma Uno surged to a runaway victory.
In Mixed Martial Arts, Usman Nurmagomedov defeated Patricky Pitbull to win the Bellator 288 lightweight title. Portugal have grabbed the final spot of the 2023 Rugby World Cup by drawing 16-all against USA. They will feature in the same group as Wales, Australia, Fiji and Georgia.
The FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar kicked off on Sunday with Ecuador defeating the hosts 2-0. Football's greatest spectacle continues with group matches all this week. In blind football, China are the Asia/Oceania champions. Israel and Finland are the new 2022 IBSA Goalball European – Division B champions.
Spain's Jon Rahm, with a score -20, won the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai over the weekend. England's Mohamed ElShorbagy and New Zealand's Joelle King won the Singapore Squash Open titles, the next round of the PSA World Tour. Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury claimed the Nitto ATP Finals doubles title, while history-maker Novak Djokovic is the Nitto ATP Finals champion.
Daniel Deusser has been crowned the Longines Global Champions Tour Super Grand Prix Champion in the final of the world tour in Prague. Michael Smith won his first darts ranking title in the PDC Grand Slam of Darts held in Wolverhampton. Finally, Mark Allen completed one of the great comebacks in sport at the World Snooker Tour UK Championship final. After trailing Ding Junhui 6-1 at one stage, Allen eventually claimed the match 10-7 late last night.
Until next time, have a great week in sport.