Paralympic champions toppled at powerlifting worlds

In the women’s -73kg, another London 2012 champion failed to medal, as France’s Souhad Ghazouani could only manage 100kg, 50kg less than her world record, to finish sixth.

Jordanian world record holder Mutaz Zakria Aljuneidi and Nigerian Ijeoma Iherobiem beat two reigning Paralympic champions to claim world titles on Wednesday (9 April) at the 2014 IPC Powerlifting World Championships in Dubai, UAE.

Aljuneidi (229kg) won the men’s -88kg in an exciting climax to the first event of the day, beating Egypt’s London 2012 gold medallist Hany Abdelhady, who could only manage fourth. Abdelhady’s weight selections demonstrated his lack of confidence and he never featured in the medal positions.

Meanwhile, Aljuneidi took the lead with a first round lift of 225kg, 7kg more than the UAE’s Mohammed Khamis Khalaf, who eventually finished fifth.

Despite not completing a second round lift, the 38-year-old Asian Open bronze medallist went on to produce a 229kg third round lift to secure gold – Jordan’s first of the Championships - and improve his own world record set in January by 3kg.

The battle for the remaining podium positions went down to the wire with Iran’s Seyedhamed Solhipourounji and Mexico’s Jose de Jesus Castillo both tied on 220kg going into the final round. With the tension mounting, Solhipourounji managed 225kg to secure silver, whilst Castillo, who failed with his attempt at the same weight, was delighted with a bronze medal and new Americas record.

In the women’s -73kg, another London 2012 champion failed to medal, as France’s Souhad Ghazouani could only manage 100kg, 50kg less than her world record, to finish sixth.

Nigeria’s Ijeoma Iherobiem took an early lead with a first lift of 119kg and strengthened her position further in the second round lifting a new African record of 124kg. Despite failing with her third lift of 127kg, the 35-year-old still had enough to secure gold ahead of Egypt’s Amany Ali (121kg) in silver and Russia’s Vera Muratov’s (120kg) in bronze.

The junior world title was won by Ukraine’s Alina Kumeyko after a spirited 91kg performance from the 16-year-old who will surely be a face to watch come Rio 2016.

The women’s -79kg saw Chinese Taipei’s London 2012 bronze medallist Tzu-Hui Lin (129kg) ease to the world title and break her own five-month-old world record by 1kg in the process. Egypt’s Geehan Hassan (120kg) finished in silver with an African record whilst Brazil’s Marcia Menezes (116kg) stole the bronze from China’s Yan Wang with a new Americas record in the last round.

At the end of day five, three countries have three gold medals apiece but it is Egypt who lead the standings with nine gongs overall (three golds, four silver and two bronze), closely followed by China and Nigeria.

The 2014 IPC Powerlifting World Championships, featuring over 330 athletes from nearly 60 countries, run from 5-11 April and are the first opportunity for athletes to begin qualification for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.

The competition also features the climax to the "Raise the Bar campaign," which has seen powerlifters and team officials take part in education seminars as part of efforts to reduce doping in the sport.

More information including a full competition schedule and live results can be found at the Dubai 2014 website.

The competition is also being live streamed.