Rio 2016 preview: women’s up to 50kg

After settling for bronze at the London 2012 Paralympics, Lidiia Soloviova has shown she is ready to return to the top of the podium at Rio 2016.

The Ukrainian has slowly been building her way up in the women’s up to 50kg. She took silver at the 2014 IPC Powerlifting World Championships in Dubai, UAE, clearing 105kg. It was her first major event in that category after previously competing in the up to 40kg. At the European Open Championships last November, she lifted 110kg for the gold medal.

But the two-time Paralympic champion will have to watch for China’s London 2012 bronze medallist Shanshan Shi, who set an Asian record of 110kg in Almaty, Kazakhstan, last year.

Then there is Egypt’s Rehab Ahmed, who lifted 107kg in Fazza World Cup in Dubai, UAE this year.

So far, no one has been able to touch the world record set by Nigeria’s Esther Oyema, who cleared 126kg but moved up to compete in the up to 55kg weight class.

You can catch the women’s up to 50kg on 10 September at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. All Para powerlifting events will be contested at the Riocentro – Pavilion 2.