Latest news with #FarhannaFarid
Straits Times
03-07-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
‘Pedal to the metal' for next 2 years, says Singaporean powerlifter Farhanna Farid
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Singapore powerlifter Farhanna Farid breaks the world record in the deadlift 52kg category for the 10th time. SINGAPORE – The clock is ticking for Singaporean powerlifter Farhanna Farid, who at 32 has spent nearly a decade in the sport and notched many milestones in her career. She has given herself two years to put 'the pedal to the metal' and break more records, before settling down and starting a family. Farhanna, who wants to have two children, said: '(It will be) a two-year campaign for me to push in powerlifting, see how far I can go, and then after that, we'll flip the switches a little bit and change gears and I would like to focus on family building. 'I would still be powerlifting, but probably won't be competing so much.' She has broken the world record 10 times in the deadlift 52kg class, and notched her latest achievement at the International Powerlifting Federation World Open Classic Powerlifting Championships in Chemnitz, Germany on June 10, when she lifted 209.5kg to rewrite her mark. Her lift was 0.5kg more than her previous best of 209kg, set at the 2024 edition in Lithuania. Farhanna said: 'I haven't always been the record holder. I would break the record and an opponent would take it and then I proceed to break it again… So it just speaks of how temporary records and numbers are. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Seller's stamp duty rates for private homes raised; holding period increased from 3 years to 4 Singapore 193ha of land off Changi to be reclaimed for aviation park; area reduced to save seagrass meadow Business More Singapore residents met CPF Required Retirement Sum when they turned 55 in 2024 Singapore PAP questions Pritam's interview with Malaysian podcast, WP says PAP opposing for the sake of opposing Singapore 1 in 4 appeals to waive HDB wait-out period for private home owners approved since Sept 2022 Sport A true fans' player – Liverpool supporters in Singapore pay tribute to late Diogo Jota Singapore Healthcare facility planned for site of Ang Mo Kio Public Library after it moves to AMK Hub 'That 10th world record, it sounds like a great number, but I think beyond that, the ripples and echoes it has created, conversations that I've been able to get myself involved with and people that I can link up with and talk to about powerlifting, about females in sport, I think that has been a bigger achievement for me personally.' She will next head to Chengdu, China, for the World Games from Aug 7 to 17, when classic powerlifting – which restricts equipment to a weight belt, singlet and wrist straps – will make its debut. The Games previously featured only equipped powerlifting, which uses specialised gear such as supportive suits, shirts and wraps. 'Let's see if we can break the world record again, and this time on a bigger stage, because it's truly the best of the best on that platform with me,' she said. 'Everything will be completely different to what I have experienced before, and hopefully to build the biggest total (weight) I've had to date.' In 2022, Farhanna quit her job as a pharmacist to focus on powerlifting full time. Her role in the sport extends beyond an athlete – she is also a coach and is a part of the executive committee at national governing body Powerlifting Singapore. To get more women to take up powerlifting, she is helping to organise a women-only competition in September. She added: 'It's been something that I've been trying to push, because I feel like we need more female participation in our sport. 'The numbers have been increasing, but I feel like it's been stagnant for a while. So I wanted to introduce something new in our line-up of local competitions.' While she has given herself two years to achieve her powerlifting goals, Farhanna insisted she will not hang up her gloves just yet and 'listen to her body' to see if she can continue competing. 'There shouldn't be a retirement age in powerlifting, but you're dictated by your body's capabilities,' said Farhanna. 'Of course, I would listen to it and mentally I am driven, and I'm keen to do this for as long as I can. 'I want to compete well into my silver years and my grandkids can be like, 'my grandma's stronger than yours'. It will be the ultimate achievement to show people that age would not need to stop you from pursuing your dreams.'
Online Citizen
13-06-2025
- Sport
- Online Citizen
Singapore's Farhanna Farid breaks deadlift world record again with 209.5kg lift
Singaporean powerlifter Farhanna Farid has broken her own world record for the 10th time since 2022. At the 2025 IPF Classic Open World Championships held in Chemnitz, Germany, she lifted 209.5kg in the women's 52kg class on 10 June 2025. Her record-breaking lift was captured in a video posted by her sponsor, SBD Apparel, on social media. The video was later reposted to Farhanna's own Instagram account on the same day. Following her successful lift, Farhanna ran to hug her husband and handler, James Barcelo, in a moment of celebration. A total of 14 powerlifters are representing Singapore at the competition, which runs from 8 to 15 June, according to Powerlifting Singapore's Instagram. The team includes both seasoned athletes and first-time competitors. Despite the appearance of ease, Farhanna revealed that preparation was challenging. She admitted struggling with grip and balance on attempts above 200kg during her training. 'Honestly, I feel more relief than happiness cos I wasn't having the best prep,' she shared. 'With so much support around me, it was hard to not give it my all and expect myself to perform. Pressure is a privilege, isn't it?' Farhanna first set the world record in June 2022 with a 197kg lift. She has since surpassed her own records multiple times, including lifts of 200.5kg, 203.5kg, and 208kg, even while recovering from a back injury.
