Almaty 2015 to be shown live

IPC Powerlifting has announced that all five days of competition from the 2015 IPC Powerlifting Asian Open Championships in Almaty, Kazakhstan, will be streamed live at www.Almaty2015.com from 26-30 July.

The competition forms part of a trio of regional Championships taking place in 2015, following April's IPC Powerlifting Americas Open Championships from Mexico City, Mexico, and ahead of November's European Open in Eger, Hungary.

All three events act as qualifiers for Rio 2016, with Almaty 2015 currently the biggest with over 220 athletes from 30 countries.

Craig Spence, IPC Director of Media and Communications, said: "The Asian region continues to be one of the most prolific in powerlifting with 19 medals won by lifters at the 2014 World Championships.

"Through the live coverage I am really looking forward to seeing the many world and Paralympic champions and record holders that this event has attracted.

"Not only will they be in Almaty on the hunt for Asian and Open titles, but they will also be looking to secure their places at Rio, and that has the potential to make it a really great show."

The host team is expected to feature Kabira Askarova, who won Asian silver at the 2013 edition in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, competing in the women's up to 50kg on 27 July.

On the same day China's world and Paralympic champion Lei Liu will lift in the men's up to 65kg.

Liu's teammates and world record holders Xiao Fei Gu and Yujiao Tan will look to impress in the men's up to 80kg and women's up to 67kg respectively on day three (28 July).

Chinese Taipei's Tzu-Hu Lin set a new mark at the World Championships in Dubai, UAE, and will be back in action in Almaty in the women's up to 79kg on 29 July.

Greek men's up to 107kg world champion and record holder Pavlos Mamalos will lead out the silver and bronze medallists from Dubai 2014 in the men's up to 107kg on the penultimate day.

Iran's Ali Sadeghzadehsalmani and Azerbaijani Elshan Heseynov both trailed Mamalos at the Worlds last year but will be fighting to avoid a repeat placing.

The world's strongest Paralympian, Siamand Rahman will headline the final day of competition on 30 July, and could once again break his 292kg world record in the men's over 107kg.

Almaty 2015 runs from 26-30 July. Live results will be available at Almaty2015.com and updates and news published on IPC Powerlifting Facebook and Twitter.