Rio 2016 Preview: Men’s up to 97kg

Nigeria’s Abdulazeez Ibrahim and Egypt’s Mohamed Eldib are expected to pick up where they last left their most intense rivalry.

The two battled for gold in the men’s up to 97kg at the 2014 IPC Powerlifting World Championships, and it was Ibrahim who out-lifted reigning Paralympic champion Eldib for the world title in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. For Ibrahim, the victory was sweet, considering he missed the London 2012 Paralympics due to injury. His 235kg lift at Dubai 2014 to show his full intentions for Rio 2016.

Eldib, however, has shown he will not hand over his Paralympic title easily. The Egyptian reset the world record at 243kg during a World Cup last year again in Dubai.

China’s Asian champion Dong Qi also has his name in the mix of medal hopefuls after lifting 230kg at the 2015 IPC Powerlifting Asian Open Championships in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

You can catch the men’s up to 97kg on 13 September at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. All Para powerlifting events will be contested at the Riocentro – Pavilion 2.