The host nation had five winners, Uzbekistan three and Azerbaijan one in a competition watched by large and appreciative crowds in Grodno.

"The halls are full, it’s crazy - it feels like the Olympic Games," said Petr Asayonak, after winning at 89 kilograms.

Kashirina also spoke of the "wonderful atmosphere" in Grodno, home town of the late Olympic champion and multiple world record holder Alexander Kurlovich.

Kashirina, whose 348kg in 2014 is the biggest ever total by a female weightlifter, dropped down from the super-heavyweights to win at 87kg.

The 32-year-old weighed in at 86.1kg and made six from six to finish 30kg clear of second-placed Rigina Adashbaeva from Uzbekistan on 117-145-262.

Kashirina, a silver medallist at London 2012, had not lifted in international competition since 2019 and will not be able to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games because Russian athletes did not sign up to the strict conditions that would have allowed them to take part as neutrals.

The Friendship Games in Russia, which are being planned for September or October next year, are likely to be the next major international competition for Russian weightlifters.

"I thought to lift 120-150, but we decided with the coaching staff that 117 and 145 are quite enough for today," Kashirina said after her victory.

"If I had to, I would have done more.

"I’m glad that I was able to show people what I do in the gym, and I hope people enjoyed it. I'm in this sport for 22 years and I'm really proud of it.

"I am very grateful to all the organisers for the warm welcome and for the wonderful atmosphere. Special thanks to the audience."

Russia won seven of the 10 women’s events. 

The other gold medallists were Regina Shaidullina on 65-85-150 at 45kg; Elizaveta Zhatkina on 77-94-171 at 49kg; Olga Te on 98-113-211 at 59kg; Yarina Gusalova on 108-129-237 at 71kg; Madina Kelekhsaeva on 94-126-220 at 76kg; and Iana Sotieva on 113-135-248 at 81kg.

Darya Naumava from Belarus, a silver medallist at Rio 2016, was second behind Sotieva on 101-134-235.

Russia's male winners were Sergey Petrov on 148-175-323 at 73kg; Vyacheslav Iarkin on 155-178-233 at 81kg, where he finished 2kg clear of team-mate Ramzan Djanhotov; Georgi Kuptsov on 175-217-392 at 102kg and super-heavyweight Timur Naniev on 160-220-380.

Kuptsov finished 1kg ahead of Yauheni Tsikhantsou from Belarus after both men failed with final attempts at 220kg.

Naniev had been injured during his preparations two weeks before the competition and had not overexerted himself, he said, but because of the support from the stands he decided not to decline his final attempt and went out to make 220kg.

Belarus did sign up to the "neutral athlete" conditions imposed by the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) and will have a strong team at the World Championships in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia next month.

The 89kg lifter Ihar Lozka and super-heavyweight Eduard Ziaziulin did not compete in Grodno because of fitness worries, but their team-mates performed well in taking five golds, eight silvers and nine bronzes.

Home winners were Henadz Laptseu on 133-153-286 at 61kg; Yahor Papou on 140-165-305 at 67kg; Petr Asayonok on 165-197-362 at 89kg; beating the Russian Roman Chepik by 1kg with his final lift; Pavel Khadasevich on 170-205-375 at 96kg; and in the women’s events Dziyana Maiseyevich on 92-116-208 at 64kg.

Andrei Aramnau, the Beijing 2008 Olympic champion at 105kg, lifted for the first time in more than two years in international competition, finishing third at 109kg on 166-196-361.

The 35-year-old said, "During the month of preparation, I gained the form that I had five to seven years ago.

"If not at the Olympics, then at the Friendship Games, I think that it will be possible to compete with young people. There is gunpowder in the flasks."

Uzbekistan’s three winners were Ogabek Nafasov in the men’s 55kg on 110-130-240; Jarmila Panfilova on 86-104-190 in the women’s 55kg and the women’s super-heavyweight Tursunoy Jabborova on 110-130-240.

Dadash Dadashbayli took the men’s 109kg for Azerbaijan on 177-216-393.

Teams from Armenia, Yemen and Venezuela were unable to travel to Belarus, and the final total of competitors was 113 from nine nations.

A leading figure in the Grodno regional Government, Vladimir Karanik, said, "The competition turned out to be very spectacular, very emotional.

"I would like to say a huge thank you to the audience, who once again proved that Grodno has a special attitude towards weightlifting."