International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) President Tamás Aján officially declared open the 2019 IWF World Championships in Pattaya today ©IWF

"Photo_Gallery"

Tamás Aján was among those that sparked the Opening Ceremony show, along with the head of the Thai Amateur Weightlifting Association, Madam Boossaba Yodbangtoey, and Pattaya Mayor Sontaya Kunplome, left ©IWF
Tamás Aján was among those that sparked the Opening Ceremony show, along with the head of the Thai Amateur Weightlifting Association, Madam Boossaba Yodbangtoey, and Pattaya Mayor Sontaya Kunplome, left ©IWF
The Opening Ceremony demonstrated the best of Thailand’s rich culture ©IWF
The Opening Ceremony demonstrated the best of Thailand’s rich culture ©IWF
A drum and wind instrument musical performance also featured as part of proceedings ©IWF
A drum and wind instrument musical performance also featured as part of proceedings ©IWF
As did the raising of the IWF flag ©IWF
As did the raising of the IWF flag ©IWF
IWF officials, including Aján, posed for a group photograph ©IWF
IWF officials, including Aján, posed for a group photograph ©IWF
North Korea’s Om Yun Chol was the stand-out performer on the first day of competition, breaking the men’s 55 kilograms clean and jerk and total world records on his way to retaining his three gold medals ©IWF
North Korea’s Om Yun Chol was the stand-out performer on the first day of competition, breaking the men’s 55 kilograms clean and jerk and total world records on his way to retaining his three gold medals ©IWF
He was joined on the combined podium by Iran's Hafez Ghashghaei, Kazakhstan's Igor Son, Saudi Arabia's Mansour Abdulrahim M Al Saleem and Vietnam's Nguyen Tran Anh Tuan ©IWF
He was joined on the combined podium by Iran's Hafez Ghashghaei, Kazakhstan's Igor Son, Saudi Arabia's Mansour Abdulrahim M Al Saleem and Vietnam's Nguyen Tran Anh Tuan ©IWF
European champion Şaziye Erdoğan of Turkey triumphed overall in the women's 45kg event ©IWF
European champion Şaziye Erdoğan of Turkey triumphed overall in the women's 45kg event ©IWF
Cuba's Ludia M. Montero Ramos pushed Erdoğan hard but ultimately fell just short of the required standard ©IWF
Cuba's Ludia M. Montero Ramos pushed Erdoğan hard but ultimately fell just short of the required standard ©IWF