JAKARTA: Pakistani teenager Talha Talib finished seventh at the 18th Asian Games here Tuesday, but managed to make a history for the country in the 62kg weightlifting event as he lifted broke the Commonwealth Games record by lifting 154kgs in clean and jerk. The 18-year-old was leading his Group B with 287 kg, but lost his chances at any of the medals. He was competing against more experienced athletes, however the future is in his favour as it was the last time that the players are competing at the 62kg event. The International Weightlifting Federation will abolish the category to replace it with 67kg. “Of course there were other athletes, but this is the last record for the 62kg category that Talha has made, it is historic in a way,” the Pakistan Weightlifting Federation official Rashed Malik said. “Talha lifted 154kg in clean and jerk and improved by one kilogram from his Commonwealth record. It is huge for him because he is just 18 years old and in the future it will be easier for him to carry on since to compete at the 62kg events, Talha will have to lose two kilograms of his natural weight. In the future events he will have an edge.” Talha is a Commonwealth Games bronze medallist, while at the Asian Games he lifted 287kgs in total, with 133kgs in snatch. His clean and jerk, snatch and total weights lifted are also a new national record. Published in Daily Times, August 22nd 2018.