Qi continued China’s successful start of the event in the United Arab Emirates, after their lifters earned three women’s titles yesterday.

A closely contested men’s up to 59-kilogram final saw Qi earn victory with a lift of 186kg.

He earned gold due to having a lighter bodyweight than Nigeria’s Thomas Kure, who achieved the same lift.

Bronze was secured by Chile’s Juan Carlos Garrido, who lifted 181kg.

Russia’s Vladimir Krivulya was a dominant winner in the men’s up to 54kg competition.

A lift of 182kg saw Krivulya finish top of the standings.

Egypt’s Taha Abdelmajid and Greece’s Dimitrios Bakochristos completed the podium places, finishing with top lifts of 163kg and 160kg.

Algeria’s Hocine Bettir earned gold in the men’s up to 65kg competition.

Bettir produced a lift of 191kg to win the event, finishing just one kilogram ahead of runner-up Jorge Carinao of Chile.

Britain’s Mark Swan placed third with a lift of 179kg.

Competition will continue tomorrow with the men’s 80kg and 88kg held alongside the women’s 73kg and 86kg events.