At the 11th World Strengthlifting and Incline Bench Press Championships held in Kazakhstan, 27-year-old Bulsar resident Yazad Chinoy won one gold and one silver medal for India. Describing Chinoy’s performance as a "proud moment for Parsis,” Sam Chothia, managing trustee of the Bulsar Parsi Anjuman Trust Funds, forwarded the details on the competition.
Yazad Chinoy with his two medals
Participating in the +115 kg senior category, Chinoy lifted a total of 505 kg to clinch the gold in strengthlifting at the event held at the Zhekpe Zhek Sports Palace, Ust-Kamenogorsk in eastern Kazakhstan from July 15 to 19, 2024. In the incline bench press, his two lifts totalling 232.5 kg won him a silver medal. For incline bench press, the barbell is lifted vertically until the elbows are locked, while the lifter’s shoulders, buttocks and head remain in contact with the bench that is raised at an angle and the feet are flat on the floor.
There were nearly six to seven competitors in his weight category including one fellow Indian from Jammu and Kashmir, Chinoy conveyed to Parsiana. Practising nearly 15-16 hours a week and resting his body on Sundays, Chinoy stated that while continuing to work with his father’s security enterprise, Yazad Agency, he is next preparing for the State powerlifting competition to be held in Surat in end September. Unlike strengthlifting, powerlifting is divided into equipped and unequipped sections. In the equipped category, competitors are permitted the use of additional gear to protect the body and to lift more weight. Last year, at the National Powerlifting Championship held in Tamil Nadu, Chinoy had won the bronze medal in the men’s seniors +120 kg category (see "Bronze for brawn,” Sports, Parsiana, July 7-20, 2023).