Powerlifting: Local teenager crowned North West Junior Powerlifting Champion

Shariq Haidery crowned North West Junior Powerlifting Champion

A Rochdale teenager’s show of strength has seen him crowned North West Junior Powerlifting Champion.

Shariq Haidery, 17, competed in the 66kg weight class at the championships, held at the UTS South Wirral gym last weekend.

Shariq pulled in a massive 397.5kg total for all three lifts of squat (142.5kg) bench press (70kg) and deadlift (185kg).

He has come such a long way since his first competition over a year ago, progressing to winning, outright, another competition in his weight class.

Initially weighing in higher than the 66kg weight class, he had two, six-week training cycles to bring him into the weight class.

He said he now looks forward to a "large tub of Ben and Jerry’s ice cream", and has his sights on setting a new personal best by breaking through the 400kg barrier.

Dr Mohammed Saghir, Physics teacher at Manchester Grammar School (MGS) and who runs the MGS Powerlfiting Club  Shariq attends, said: “This is another great win for Shariq, and all the while he continues to improve on his personal best.

“He again has proven his ability to compete at a regional and national level and it is nice to see so many students involved with power and weightlifting at MGS.

"Having a focus in the weights gym will always produce the desired results and Shariq is a testament to that.

"I wish him all the best for his next competition, in which he will hopefully smash his 400kg combined lift total target.”