Powerlifting: Shariq Haidery powers to personal best in the 2017 British Junior Powerlifting Competition

Shariq Haidery at the 2017 British Junior Powerlifting Competition

Shariq Haidery, 17, from Rochdale, powered his way to a personal best and finished in sixth place at the British Junior Powerlifting Championships which were held in Glasgow on Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 November.

After finishing second in the North West Powerlifting Federation Championships in February of this year, he accepted the invitation to compete and set himself the ambitious target of lifting more than 400kg across squat, deadlift and bench press.

With a combined total of 405kg, Haidery broke the personal best he achieved at the North West championships, finishing sixth in the country.

He trained for the competition for 10 weeks, with a strict diet and intensive schedule of lifting sandwiched in between school and homework.

Haidery is a pupil at Manchester Grammar School (MGS) and a member of the School’s Powerlifting Club.

Dr Mohammed Saghir, who runs MGS’s Powerlifting Club, said: “We are all proud of his achievements.

“Seeing Shariq develop as a junior lifter is remarkable and a testament to his commitment to the sport. Fitting it in alongside his academic studies is difficult, and I commend his ability to do this. I look forward to seeing Shariq move to lifting ever heavier weights as he now prepares for his next competition.”