Schedule, live coverage confirmed for powerlifting Euros

“We expect another wave of outstanding performances to add to those we have already seen in 2015.”

IPC Powerlifting has announced that all five days of the biggest ever European Open Championships in Eger, Hungary, will be shown live at event's website.

The competition schedule for the event, which runs between 24-28 November and will feature 230 athletes from 44 countries, has also been confirmed.

Craig Spence, the International Paralympic Committee’s Director of Communications, said: “The European Open Championships will conclude a great year for IPC Powerlifting, which has seen the first Americas Open Championships take place alongside another successful Asian Open Championships.

“As with the other regional Championships, we are delighted to offer fans the chance to watch their favourite athletes live in action. We expect another wave of outstanding performances to add to those we have already seen in 2015. Multiple world records have already been broken in 12 out of 20 events as athletes continue their preparations for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.”

Day one of the European Open will feature Nigerian world champion and men’s up to 49kg world record holder Yakubu Adesokan. Adesokan set a new world best at the 2015 All Africa Games in Brazzaville, Congo.

Great Britain’s Ali Jawad heads out in the men’s up to 65kg on day two, having temporarily moved up a weight category following his victory in the up to 59kg at the 2014 World Championships in Dubai, UAE. He hopes to lift 200kg before dropping down to the lower weight category in time for Rio 2016.

Russian world champion Oleysa Lafina will also highlight competition on day two at the Hotel Eger, for her first major Championships of the year in the women’s up to 50kg.

In the women’s up to 67kg on day four, China’s Yujiao Tan will be looking for her second gold after taking victory at the Asian Open Championships in Almaty, Kazakhstan, in July.

France’s defending women’s up to 73kg European champion Souhad Ghazouani is also in Eger, and could improve on her 150kg world record which still stands from the 2013 edition in Aleksin, Russia.

Barney Spender, a journalist and commentator for Eurosport, will voice the livestream at www.eger2015.org.

Two regional Championships in the Americas and Asia have already been staged in 2015, alongside the All Africa Games which was the first Paralympic ranking event to be held in the region.

The 2015 IPC Powerlifting Americas Open were held in Mexico City in April and the Asian Open in Almaty.

The European Open Championships will be the biggest of all three regional Championships in 2015.

All Championships offer powerlifters the chance to increase their Paralympic ranking for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.

Live results will be available at event's website, and updates and pictures posted to Facebook.com/IPCpowerlifting and @IPCPowerlifting.