Kitakyushu 2018: Great Britain announce team

Micky Yule and Louise Sugden will be Great Britain’s two representatives at the World Para Powerlifting Asia-Oceania Open Championships as announced by British Weightlifting. The Championships in Kitakyushu, Japan, run from 8-12 September and are open to powerlifters from all countries.

This is the third regional Championships of the year and a mandatory step on the qualification pathway for athletes from Asia and Oceania hoping to compete at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics. More than 240 athletes from 33 National Paralympic Committees are expected to compete.

Yule will take part in the men’s up to 72kg against the likes of Iraq’s Paralympic silver medallist Rasool Mohsin, while Sugden will compete in the women’s up to 86kg.

Paralympic Performance Director Tom Whittaker said: “I am excited to see Micky Yule, Louise Sugden and the wider team learn about Japan and disseminate this to the wider athlete group.

“Both athletes are well placed to challenge for top eight Tokyo qualification rankings and have justified their selection with continual progress throughout 2018. They deserve the opportunity to represent Great Britain and we wish them well in their final preparations.”

The wider GB team competed in the European Open Championships in May, securing early top 8 ranking positions. Yule took gold and Sugden bronze in Berck-Sur-Mer, France.