#Japan #Okayama #Okayama University #Powerlifting #Team Victory

The Okayama University Weight Training Club achieved a remarkable team victory at the 44th Kansai Collegiate Autumn Powerlifting Championship held on October 13, 2025. This event took place at the Shimizu Memorial Gymnasium on the Tsushima Campus of Okayama University. Furthermore, two outstanding athletes from the club, Hiroki Sugino (a third-year student from the Faculty of Education) and Nana Iura (a third-year student from the Faculty of Engineering), were honored with the Best Athlete award for their exceptional performances.

The championship served as a regional qualifier for the All-Japan Collegiate Powerlifting Championships scheduled to be held from December 6 to 7 at Aichi Gakuin University. A total of 89 athletes from 12 universities participated in this high-stakes competition, resulting in the setting of nine new national student records. Among those who made headlines, Yuki Fujii (a third-year law student) excelled in the women's 52 kg bench press category, while Sugino dominated the men's 83 kg category by setting new records in bench press, deadlift, and total lift.

After the competition, the captain of the team, Tomoki Fujiwara (a fourth-year engineering student), expressed his gratitude, stating, "Our team's win in the autumn Kansai Championship was only possible thanks to everyone's effort. This event allowed us to identify several areas for improvement, and I am confident we can become an even better team. Our next goal is to win at the Intercollegiate Championships, enabling us to pave the way for consecutive victories for future generations."

In a similar vein, Sugino shared his excitement about both personal and team achievements, commenting, "I'm thrilled we achieved our goal of team victory, which is a significant milestone for us. In December's Intercollegiate Championships, I aim to further contribute to the team's success by pushing for new records in my training." Meanwhile, Iura reflected on her performance with determination, saying, "I felt some disappointment as I wasn’t able to lift heavier weights compared to last time. However, I will use this experience as motivation to train harder for the Intercollegiate Championships."

The dedication and resilience demonstrated by the Okayama University Weight Training Club continue to inspire all, and excitement builds around their impending performance at the All-Japan Collegiate Powerlifting Championships in December 2025. Tune in to see how they will leverage their latest triumph at the regional level to propel their ambitions forward!

Individual results from Okayama University include the following highlights:

• - Ayumi Okay (a third-year literature student) competed in the women's 52 kg category, achieving a squat of 85 kg, bench press of 45 kg, deadlift of 105 kg, and a total of 235 kg, securing the first place.
• - Yuki Fujii (a third-year law student) achieved a squat of 87.5 kg, bench press of 65 kg, deadlift of 105 kg, and a total of 257.5 kg, finishing in second place.
• - Mako Suga (a first-year medical student) completed a squat of 72.5 kg, bench press of 32.5 kg, deadlift of 92.5 kg, and a total of 197.5 kg, earning third place.
• - In the men's categories, Hiroki Sugino achieved outstanding results with a squat of 237.5 kg, bench press of 172.5 kg, deadlift of 275 kg, and a total of 685 kg, finishing first in the men's 83 kg division.
• - Captain Tomoki Fujiwara finished second in the men's 83 kg category, lifting a total of 565 kg.

With this victory fresh in their minds, the members of the Okayama University Weight Training Club are now focusing on their training for the upcoming national championships, filled with aspirations of larger achievements. Expect to hear more about their incredible journey and relentless pursuit of excellence in the coming months!