AIYAZ Ali has spent years chasing a number, and at the 2026 Oceania Regional Powerlifting and Bench Press Championships, the 22-year-old finally lifted himself into the record books.
The young Fiji powerlifter produced the performance of his career, squatting an enormous 365kg to break the Oceania junior squat record, turning a long-held ambition into a remarkable achievement on the regional stage.
For Ali, it was a moment of immense pride, especially after putting in the hard work and dedication required to reach such a milestone.
“I feel really proud to break the record. I’ve been working towards that record for a good amount of time and I’m just thankful and grateful that I was able to break it,” he said.
Having first competed in 2023, he made the full switch to powerlifting in 2024, and just two years later, he has established himself as an Oceania junior record-holder. His latest success, however, is only another step towards bigger ambitions.
Ali is now hoping to represent Fiji at the Junior World Championships in China next year, with the South Pacific Games another target should the opportunity to compete at the world championships not eventuate.
He dedicated his achievement to his family and everyone who had supported his journey and also expressed gratitude to the wider community for believing in him, saying he hoped to continue meeting their expectations through his performances.
At 22, breaking an Oceania junior record with a 365kg squat is a significant achievement, but Ali’s ambitions suggest this could be only the beginning.
