KATHMANDU: Nepali lifter Bikash Bhatta set three new national records in the IWF World Championship in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Monday.

Competing in the men's 81kg weight category, Bhatta lifted 124kg in snatch and 148kg in clean and jerk for a total of 272kg on his way to breaking own marks set during the selection tournament of the 19th Asian Games.

He had set the records of 123kg in snatch and 147kg in clean and jerk for the total score of 270kg. A total of five Nepali lifters, including two women, are taking part in the first World Championship in 16 years. Bishal Singh Bista (96kg), Sagar Bhandari (109kg), Tikamaya Gurung (55kg) and Sharada Chaudhary (64kg) will also represent Nepal in the championship.

Coach Jeevan Gautam, referee Parth Sarathi Sen Gupt and manager Ram Sundar Shrestha have accompanied the players to Saudi Arabia. NWA President Ram Krishna Shrestha reached Riyadh on Monday to take part in the World Weightlifting Federation congress.

A version of this article appears in the print on September 12, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.