Eger 2019: Mariana Shevchuk shines

Day one of the Eger 2019 World Para Powerlifting World Cup on Thursday was all about promising athletes fulfilling their potential.

In the women’s up to 55kg, Mariana Shevchuk of Ukraine currently looks unbeatable. The world No. 1 set a new world record of 131kg at February’s Fazza World Cup in Dubai and while she couldn’t top that in Eger, she still cruised to gold.

Shevchuk lifted 117kg, more than enough to beat Morocco’s Najat El Garraa(97kg) and Thailand’s Wandi Kongmuang (75kg).

Still just 22, Shevchuk looks well set to fulfil her ultimate ambition – Paralympic gold – if she can stay fit.

Ni Nengah Widiasih topped the podium here in the women’s up to 41kg with a raise of 91kg. Russia’s Yulia Vorontsova (82kg) and Poland’s Monika Szram (57kg) followed her into the podium.

The Indonesian has been getting better with each competition she enters, bagging bronze at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games and silver at the Fazza World Cup earlier this year.

She has always been a force regionally, winning gold four times at the Asian Para Games. With the Nur-Sultan 2019 World Championships and Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games approaching, Widiasih now looks able to rival anybody on the world stage.

Mammadov lays down marker

In the men’s lightest class (up to 49kg), Azerbaijan’s Parvin Mammadov is also an increasingly fierce contender.

World no.1 Yakubu Adesokan of Nigeria did not made the trip to Eger, and neither did Omar Qarada of Jordan – who won this weight in Fazza. That left the field clear for Mammadov, who claimed silver in Fazza, to go one better.

He was well ahead of the pack, successfully raising 140kg. Poland’s Slawomir Szymanski grabbed silver with a lift of 128kg, while Saudi Arabia’s Maysar Olaymi got bronze with 125kg.

Also looking in fine form was Vladimir Krivulya of Russia. He won the men’s up to 54kg gold with a lift of 182kg.

It was the second biggest lift of the season so far in his category: Roland Ezuruike of Nigeria recorded 190kg back in January. It also marked an impressive return to form for Krivulya, who won bronze at the London 2012 Paralympics and silver in the 2014 World Championships.

Japan’s Mitsunori Ichikawa (126kg) got silver and Thailand’s Thanakrit Makkinthorn (85kg) took bronze.

Great Britain’s Olivia Broome won the women’s up to 50kg gold with a fine lift of 94kg, with Marina Beketova (90kg) of Russia second and Halima Lemtakhem (74kg) of Morocco third (74kg).

Only two athletes competed in the women’s up to 45kg. Russia’s Larisa Berieva lifted 80kg, beating local lifter Katalin Engelhardt of Hungary, who managed 50kg.

The competition continues on Friday with the women’s up to 61kg, 67kg and 73kg and men’s up to 59kg and 65kg.

Live results are available on World Para Powerlifting’s website.