Honoring Our Shaheeds: Lift for Legacy
This summer, we unite in strength and spirit for a powerlifting competition in memory of the Shaheeds of the Sangarsh
Let’s channel our resilience and honor our past by pushing our limits. Together, we lift for justice, for remembrance, and for Chardi Kala.
Participants must be at least 18 years old to enter this competition.
Each participant will have the opportunity to perform three lifts for each exercise: squat, bench press, and deadlift. For each lift, participants are given three attempts to successfully complete it. Competitors may choose to participate in one, two, or all three exercises.
Only the best successful attempt for each lift will count toward the final score for that specific exercise. Winners will be announced individually for the squat, bench press, and deadlift within each weight class and gender division. There will be no combined total used to determine winners.
All participants are required to wear appropriate athletic attire. However, considering the purpose and location of this event, participants will be required to wear attire that has sleeves (either half or full length), and bottoms must reach the top of knees at the very least.
Lifters are allowed to use basic supportive gear but will be limited to a lifting belt, knee sleeves, and chalk. Lifting shoes with a flat or heeled sole are permitted. However, advanced supportive equipment such as squat suits, bench shirts, or knee wraps are not allowed unless specified for an “equipped” division.
For the squat, the lifter must position the barbell across their upper back or shoulders. Once the lifter is motionless, the referee will give the command “Squat.” The lifter must then lower themselves until the top of the hip joint is clearly below the top of the knee (breaking parallel), and then return to a fully upright position with hips and knees locked. Once standing motionless, the referee will issue the “Rack” command, at which point the lifter may return the bar to the rack.
A lift will be considered invalid if the lifter fails to reach proper depth, moves the bar downward during ascent, racks the bar before the command, or steps forward or backward during the lift.
For the bench press, the lifter must lie flat on the bench with their head, shoulders, and buttocks in contact with the bench, and their feet flat on the floor. The bar must be held at arm’s length in a motionless position until the referee gives the “Start” command. The lifter will then lower the bar to the chest, pause briefly until motionless, and wait for the “Press” command. The bar must then be pressed upward to full extension with elbows locked. When stable, the referee will give the “Rack” command.
The lift will be ruled invalid for reasons including failure to pause, uneven extension, bouncing the bar, lifting the head, buttocks, or feet, or not waiting for the proper commands.
For the deadlift, the lifter must lift the bar from the floor to a fully locked-out position in one smooth motion. At the top, the lifter must stand erect with hips and knees locked and shoulders pulled back. There is only one command, “Down,” which will be given once the lifter is stable at the top.
The bar must then be returned to the floor under control. A lift will be disqualified if the lifter hitches the bar (resting or rebending knees), drops it before the down command, or fails to achieve full lockout.
Each lifter is allowed three attempts per lift. After each attempt, the lifter or their coach must declare the weight for the next attempt within one minute. The weight for the next attempt can be increased but not decreased.
For each lift, the heaviest successful attempt is the one that will count toward the standings for that exercise. Keep in mind, you must declare the next weight for the next attempt in the next minute, not the next lift.
Each lift will be evaluated by three referees, and a lift will be considered successful if at least two out of three referees give a thumps up sign (indicating a good lift). The lifters with the highest aggregate lifts score in each category — squat, bench press, and deadlift — will be awarded first place for that lift.
All participants must attend the weigh-in and rules briefing before the competition begins. Spotters will be provided for both the squat and bench press for safety. Lifters must follow all commands during the lifts; failure to do so will result in disqualification of that attempt. Any unsportsmanlike conduct, disrespect toward referees or staff, or unsafe behavior may result in removal from the competition.