Rio 2016 preview: women’s up to 41kg

Looking further down the Paralympic rankings for qualification for Rio 2016, 19-year-old Nigerian Jonah Ben has also made an impact.

On paper Turkey’s Nazmiye Muratli looks set to take her second Paralympic title in the women’s up to 41kg at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.

As the world and European champion, Muratli (nee Muslu) dominated her weight category for a number of years.

That was until the 2015 IPC Powerlifting Asian Open Championships when China’s Paralympic silver medallist Zhe Cui broke the world record with a fourth round lift of 103.5kg.

That improved on Muratli’s world title winning lift from 2014 by 0.5kg.

Whilst Muratli did not compete at any World Cups in 2016, Cui took the chance to test herself in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, in February.

Here she competed in the weight category above – the up to 45kg – and lifted 104kg.

It has been confirmed that Cui will compete in the women’s up to 41kg, with the potential to finally break the world record and winning streak of Muratli firmly under her belt.

Looking further down the Paralympic rankings for qualification for Rio 2016, 19-year-old Nigerian Jonah Ben has also made an impact.

With her second place finish from the Asian Open, Ben registered a new junior world record of 100kg. With that result she put herself in contention for a Paralympic medal as the third ranked powerlifter behind Muratli and Cui.

You can catch the women’s up to 41kg on 8 September, the opening day of competition at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. All Para powerlifting events will be contested at the Riocentro – Pavilion 2.