Five lifters to look out for at Eger 2015

The 2015 IPC Powerlifting European Championships, the biggest in history, get underway in less than two weeks’ time on 24 November.

A number of the world’s best powerlifters will be in Eger, Hungary, looking to put in their best performances in the last major event ahead of the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.

World records have already been broken in 12 out of 20 events at the Americas Open, Asian Open and All Africa Games this year.

Here are five powerlifters who could add to that number.

Yakubu Adesokan, Nigeria

The European Open will feature Nigerian world and Paralympic champion and men’s up to 49kg world record holder Yakubu Adesokan.

Adesokan set a new world best at the 2015 All Africa Games in Brazzaville, Congo, of 182.5kg.

Ali Jawad, Great Britain

Great Britain’s Ali Jawad heads out in the men’s up to 65kg, having temporarily moved up a weight category following his victory in the up to 59kg at the 2014 World Championships in Dubai, UAE.

He hopes to lift 200kg before dropping down to the lower weight category in time for Rio 2016.

Olesya Lafina, Russia

Russian world champion Oleysa Lafina will also highlight the competition, for her first major Championships of the year in the women’s up to 50kg.

Yujiao Tan, China

In the women’s up to 67kg, China’s Yujiao Tan will be looking for her second gold after taking victory at the Asian Open Championships in Almaty, Kazakhstan, in July.

Tan set a new world record of 137kg at the Incheon 2014 Asian Para Games in October 2014.

Souhad Ghazouani, France

France’s defending women’s up to 73kg European champion Souhad Ghazouani’s 150kg world record from the 2013 edition still stands.

Full live coverage of the 2015 IPC Powerlifting European Open Championships will be shown at the event website between 24-28 November.

Around 230 athletes from 44 countries will compete for gold and Paralympic rankings.