Will Rizki Juniansyah and Rahmat Abdullah Duel Again in the Same Class?

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — Although Rizki Juniansyah and Rahmat Erwin Abdullah will compete separately at the 2025 SEA Games in Thailand, they will be in the same category at the 2025 World Weightlifting Championship. Will a "duel" between these two best lifters from Indonesia occur again?

Gold medalist at the Paris 2024 Olympics, Rizki Juniansyah, and bronze medalist at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Rahmat Erwin Abdullah, are part of the Indonesian weightlifting team that will participate in the 2025 World Championship in Forde, Norway, from October 2 to 10. Indonesia is sending five male and five female lifters to the first world-level event that features new weight categories.

As of June 1, 2025, the IWF (International Weightlifting Federation) will implement new weight classes consisting of 60 kilograms, 65 kg, 71 kg, 79 kg, 88 kg, 98 kg, 110 kg, and +110 kg for the men's sector. Meanwhile, the women's sector will consist of 48 kg, 53 kg, 58 kg, 63 kg, 69 kg, 77 kg, 86 kg, and +86 kg.

Weightlifting competitions are categorized based on athletes' body weight. This is to ensure fair competition among lifters.

Rizki and Rahmat will compete in the men's 79 kg class. This weight category is the most suitable for them, as they previously competed in the 73 kg class and occasionally in the 81 kg class.

A month ago, precisely on August 20, 2025, Rizki and Rahmat had already "dueled" in the national selection to become the best lifter eligible to compete in the 79 kg category. Rizki successfully won the contest to represent Indonesia at the 2025 SEA Games in Thailand. Rahmat had to be content competing in the heavier class, 88 kg.

Although Rizki and Rahmat were separated in the multi-sport event, they can compete in the same category in individual events such as the World Championship. As a result, both Rizki and Rahmat occupy the 79 kg class.

The Secretary General of the Central Board of the Indonesian Weightlifting Association, Djoko Pramono, on Friday (26/9/2025), stated that they do not have an issue if there are athletes competing in the same class at the World Championship. In addition to Rizki and Rahmat, veteran lifter Eko Yuli Irawan will also compete in the same class as his junior, Leonardo Geovani, in the 65 kg category.

Djoko encouraged them to showcase their abilities, especially at the inaugural international event they are participating in after the implementation of the new class. If necessary, Djoko stated, each athlete should demonstrate their best performance according to their respective strengths.

I'm still going to the World Championships. However, whether I'll appear or not will depend on the situation.

Rizki, for example, should be able to dominate in total lifts because his abilities in the snatch and clean and jerk tend to be balanced. Rizki holds the world record for total lift of 365 kg in the 73 kg class. He set this at the 2024 Weightlifting World Cup in Phuket, Thailand.

Meanwhile, Rahmat demonstrated his best abilities in the clean and jerk. Rahmat holds the world record for the clean and jerk with a lift of 209 kg in the 81 kg class and 190 kg in the 73 kg class.

Rizki stated that the duel will not occur directly as they are in different groups. The lifter from Serang, Banten, is in Group A, while Rahmat is in Group B. Each lifter will compete according to their respective groups. After all lifters have performed, the overall lifting results will be assessed to determine the medal winners.

According to the schedule, the lifters in Group B will perform first on Monday (6/10/2025) at 12:00 PM WIB. Meanwhile, the lifters in Group A will compete on the same day at 2:30 PM WIB.

Meanwhile, Rahmat stated that the duel may not necessarily take place not only because they are in different groups but also due to his condition, which is not yet fully fit. Rahmat sustained a right shoulder injury during the national selection for the SEA Games last month and is still in the recovery process.

"I'm still going to the World Championships. But whether I'll appear or not will depend on the situation," said Rahmat.

A year ago in Phuket, Thailand, Rizki and Rahmat created the most dramatic duel on the weightlifting stage. This duel, which many referred to as the most heartbreaking moment in the world of weightlifting, had to take place because Rahmat and Rizki were in the same weight class, namely 73 kg. Meanwhile, there was only one ticket in the 73 kg category for Indonesia to the Paris 2024 Olympics.

In fact, Rahmat and Rizki are two weightlifting gems in the 73 kg class. Their potential has been evident for a long time. Both have also become two of the strongest lifters in the world in that category, as demonstrated by their dominance at the top of the Olympic qualification ranking list.