Said Saif Asaad

Who is Said Saif Asaad?

Said Saif Asaad, born Angel Popov on May 31, 1979 in Bulgaria, is a Qatari weightlifter who competed in the Men's 105 kg weight class at the 2000 Summer Olympics and won a bronze medal.

One of eight Bulgarian weighlifters recruited by the Qatar Olympic Committee, Asaad became a Qatari citizen to represent the country in the 2000 Olympics, his old name, Angel Popov, being left behind in the process. Qatar has been known for recruiting sportspeople from other countries, the most notable example being world-class runner Saif Saaeed Shaheen.

After moving to Asia, Asaad has become Asian champion twice as well as winning the 2002 Asian Games. He is also the 2003 world champion. Later he competed at the 2004 Summer Olympics, but finished without a result.