Kurdish Teenager Mirghan Haji Wins Three Gold Medals at World Powerlifting Championships

ARK News.. Sixteen-year-old Kurdish athlete Mirghan Haji achieved an outstanding result at the World Junior and Youth Powerlifting Championships, held in Sun City, South Africa, from August 18 to 29, 2026, winning three gold medals and one silver medal while representing Syria.

Haji competed in the Sub-Junior 57kg equipped category, with an official competition bodyweight of 55.95 kilograms, according to the championship’s official data.

She finished with a 392.5kg total, ahead of Poland’s Karolina Kosiecka, who recorded 355kg, earning the gold medal in the overall classification.

Her medals included gold in the squat after lifting 180kg, the best result in her category; silver in the bench press with a 55kg lift; and gold in the deadlift after lifting 157.5kg. She also secured gold in the overall total.

Haji is originally from Kobani in Syrian Kurdistan and lives with her family in Raqqa, where she began practicing powerlifting at a young age. She previously competed in a championship in Damascus in 2023, finishing second in Syria before later winning first place at the Syrian national championship.

She also represented Syria at the West Asia Powerlifting Cup held in Doha in August 2025, competing in the Sub-Junior Classic 63kg category and finishing first in her division.

Raqqa Governorate issued a congratulatory message following Haji’s achievement, while Raqqa Governor Abdulrahman Salama called her to congratulate her on the accomplishment as one of the governorate’s athletes.

Haji’s performance at the world championships highlights her promising sporting talent, while continued access to training, support, and professional sports development could help her advance her career and achieve further success on the international stage.

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