Mario Mifsud, Malta's leading powerlifter, was crowned world champion in the -125kg category at the Hilton Hotel, Milton Keynes, UK.

Mifsud hoisted a world record 325kg in the deadlift, on the way to a 742.5kg total that earned the Maltese powerhouse the world title.

Emanuel Schembri also produced a very positive performance. He broke the junior world record in the -110kg category in the squat when he registered a 240kg lift to outclass his Polish and Irish opponents who were hot on his heels to take first place in the squat.

Schembri was already a European record holder in the lift. Now, he holds both the European and world junior records in the lift which has been his speciality since he started training over eight years ago.

Mariel Incorvaja, Malta's only female lifter in the competition, became the first lady in the Over-40 category to lift 140kg in the deadlift. This set her up for a world mark in the over 80kg female class for the Masters 1.

Mathew Muscat Inglott and Kris Mintoff also had a good showing, placing fifth and sixth respectively in the senior -82.5kg category. Sean Galea and Kurt Bullock did well to place in mid-table in the widely contested -75kg category.

Daniel Debono, competing in the -67.5kg, made an attempt at the junior world record in the deadlift but failed to beat the 210kg mark.

International referee Nicholai Borg gained valuable experience when he refereed plenty of lifts at these World Championships.

The Malta Drug-Free Powerlifting Association was represented at the World Congress which was held the day before the aforementioned competition. The Maltese entourage successfully bid to host the European Single Lifts Event next September. The other candidates were England and Estonia.

More information on powerlifting in Malta may be obtained by visiting www.efitnessmalta.com/mdfpa.