Powerlifter Solhipouravanji exacts revenge over rival at Incheon 2014

Iran’s world silver medallist Seyedhamed Solhipouravanji is the new men’s up to 88kg powerlifting Asian Para Games champion and world record holder after an emphatic performance in Incheon, South Korea, on Wednesday (22 October).

In a rematch of their duel from April’s World Championships, Solhipouravanji produced a second round lift of 226.0kg to beat Jordan’s world champion Mutaz Zakaria Daoud Aljuneidi (220.0kg) in to silver.

Buoyed on by his success, 24-year-old Solhipouravanji then lifted 229.5kg in the fourth round to add 0.5kg to Aljuneidi’s world record set in April.

Mongolia’s Sodnompiljee Enkhbayar (205.0kg) completed the podium with bronze.

In the women’s up to 73kg class, Thailand’s Arawan Bootpo claimed gold and a new Asian record with a third round lift of 116.0kg. Her lift was 1.0kg more than the previous record set by Indonesia’s Nurtani Purba two years ago.

Syria’s Rasha Alshikh (107.0kg) took silver and Turkmenistan’s Mayagozel Ekeyeva (98.0kg) the bronze.

Despite failing with two attempts at 237.0kg to break his own world record, China’s world champion Xiaofei Gu still took the title in the men’s up to 80kg class.

His second round lift of 231.0kg was just enough to beat Iran’s Majid Farzin (230.0kg) into silver. Bronze went to Thailand’s Thongsa Marasri (193.0kg).

Powerlifting will continue on Thursday (23 October) at the Moonlight Festival Garden Powerlifting Venue with three further medal events.

The 2014 Asian Para Games opened on Saturday 18 October and will run through to Friday 24 October. Athletes from 41 countries will compete in 23 sports.