Powerlifting: Day seven preview

The Rio 2016 powerlifting competition will come to a close on Wednesday (September 14) with the world’s three heaviest weight divisions on show at Riocentro Pavilion 2.

The first event of the seventh and final day of the competition will be the men’s up to 107kg category from 10am, the women’s over 86kg class kicks off the afternoon session from 1pm, while the final class at Rio 2016 will be the men’s over 107kg event at 4pm.

Greece’s Pavlos Mamalos, for the most part, has been unbeatable in the men’s up to 107kg since winning the world title in 2014.

The man who man stands in his way for Paralympic glory at Rio 2016 is Azerbaijan’s Elshan Huseynov.

The Greek took World Championship gold in Dubai, in 2014, setting a world record along the way, but, while he also claimed the European title in Eger, Hungary, Huseynov snatched the world record with a fourth round lift of 243kg.

After a breakout season in 2015, Huseynov will be looking for his first ever Paralympic medal in Rio.

Iran’s World silver and two-time Paralympic medallist Ali Sadeghzadehsalmani will also contend for a spot on the podium.

In the afternoon, Nigeria’s Josephine Orji, also known as ‘Precious’, is expected to carry over her impressive 2015 form into Rio 2016 in the women’s over 86kg class.

The world champion also won gold at the 2015 Asian Open with a new world record of 153kg, with very few women in the category coming close to lifting that amount of weight.

However, Egypt’s world silver medallist Nadia Ali may have something to show after lifting 141kg at a World Cup event in Dubai in February this year.

Also vying for the podium is Poland’s Marzena Zieba, whose lift of 132kg in February showed her potential ahead of her competition in Rio.

Meanwhile, Iran’s Siamand Rahman will attempt to do what no other man has ever done and clear the bar at 300kg in the men’s over 107kg category at Rio 2016.

The event will mark the end of the competition and would be the perfect way to cap off a history-making week of Paralympic powerlifting.

Rahman claimed gold at London 2012 with an effort of 280kg in the men’s over 100kg class, but has since improved that mark by lifting 285kg at the 2014 World Championships in Dubai and 290kg at the Asian Para Games at Incheon, Korea, in the same year.

Korea’s Keunbae Chun will be looking to improve on his bronze medal effort at London 2012 by challenging the Iranian for the gold, while many eyes will be on Jordan’s Jamil Elshebli, who has recently moved to the sport after competing in shot put in the last three Paralympics, claiming silver at both Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008.