Nakhon Ratchasima hosts World Cup season finale

Three-day event is part of the World Abilitysport Games featuring 68 athletes from 15 countries at the Liptapanlop Hall; Tokyo 2020 Paralympic medallists Enkhbayar Sodnompiljee from Mongolia and Louise Sugden from Great Britain among the main stars alongside medal hopeful Kamolpan Kraratpet who put Thailand on the podium at the Asian Para Games 05 Dec 2023

Two women in wheelchairs next to a short stature woman on a podium at the Asian Para Games

Thailand's Kamolpan Kraratpet (right) took her country's only Para powerlifting medal at this year's Asian Para Games in China

ⒸHangzhou 2022 LOC

By Victor Pereira | For World Para Powerlifting

Marking the end of an action-packed 2023 World Para Powerlifting season, the Nakhon Ratchasima 2023 World Cup is set to captivate the audience from Wednesday to Friday (6 to 8 December) as a total of 68 athletes hailing from 15 different countries are poised to compete at the Liptapanlop Hall in Thailand’s third largest city.

The event is part of the programme of the World Abilitysport Games 2023, which features other nine sports and takes place from 4 to 8 December. The Liptapanlop Hall was built for the 2007 Southeast Asian Games and holds 2,000 seats, promising an electrifying atmosphere throughout the event.

Local fans will undoubtedly turn their attention to the women's up to 55kg category on Thursday and the mixed team event on Friday, in which Kamolpan Kraratpet aims to build on her recent success.

She clinched Thailand's only Para powerlifting medal (a bronze) at the Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, China two months ago and is the strongest candidate to become a local hero in front of the home crowd.

Alongside Kraratpet in the three-day event will be Narong Kasanun (men's up to 65kg) and Thongsa Marasri (men's up to 80kg), who represented Thailand at the last Paralympic Games in Tokyo, Japan two years ago.

Paralympic medallists in action

Among the contenders, two Paralympic medallists stand out. Mongolia’s Enkhbayar Sodnompiljee holds the title of Tokyo 2020 Paralympic champion in the men's up to 107kg category. He also has a World Championships gold from Nur-Sultan 2019 to his name, solidifying his status as the most decorated athlete in the competition.

An incredible moment for all of #MGL, as Sodnompiljee Enkhbayar wins his country's second-ever Paralympic #gold medal! 🥳#ParaPowerlifting #Tokyo2020 #Paralympics pic.twitter.com/XttPCcER1f
— Paralympic Games (@Paralympics) August 30, 2021

Louise Sugden from Great Britain, a bronze medallist at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics in the women's up to 86kg, brings her competitive spirit to the season finale and is keen to close the season with another medal.

Malaysia, represented by five athletes, features Bryan Junency Gustin, the older brother of Paralympic and world champion Bonnie Gustin. Bryan will be competing in the men's up to 80kg on Thursday.

China, Cyprus, Estonia, Greece, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Poland, Singapore and United Arab Emirates are the other nations taking part in the World Cup.

The Nakhon Ratchasima 2023 World Cup will be streamed live on World Abilitysport YouTube channel.

Complete schedules and results from this year’s last World Cup can be found here.

More information about the 2023 World Abilitysport Games are available here.