Cairo 2025: Paris 2024 champions Gharibshahi, Oluwafemiayo shatter world records

Iran’s Aliakbar Gharibshahi arrived in Cairo with a clear purpose — and he proved it with a dominant, record-breaking performance to capture his third World Championships title at the New Capital City Hall on Thursday (16 October).

Gharibshahi, the two-time world champion, displayed an incredible show of strength and determination to break his own world record of 254 kg (set in Dubai 2022) by one kilogram in the second round of men’s up to 107 kg final. He attempted to go further with 260 kg only to falter this time and save it for later.

“After Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, I trained a lot to set to raise the bar again. I came to Cairo 2025 with a new world record in my mind and wanted to set 260 kg but maybe next time,” said the 43-year-old Gharibshahi, who won the gold at Paris 2024 with a Paralympic record lift of 252 kg one year ago.

Tokyo 2020 champion Sodnompiljee Enkhbayar settled for the silver at 243 kg.

It was a special day for USA’s Bobby Body, the 2023 Parapan American Games champion, as he embarked into the pathway of LA 2028 with his first ever World Championship medal – the bronze medal. In the process, he also broke the Parapan Am Games record with an effort of 237 kg in the second round.

What a night in Cairo! 🌙🔥

A year after breaking the WR in Paris, Folashade Oluwafemiayo 🇳🇬 does it again — lifting 168kg to set a new world record in the women’s over 86kg! 💥🏋️‍♀️#Cairo2025 #ParaPowerlifting pic.twitter.com/dxRTvwyLF3

— Para Powerlifting (@Powerlifting) October 16, 2025

Oluwafemiayo regains title

Nigeria have had a great campaign at Cairo 2025 and Folashad Oluwafemiayo made sure it continues as she regained her World Championship title after four years.

Oluwafemiayo, the two-time Paralympic and three-time champion, was amazing on the bench as she convincingly improved her own world record at 168 kg. The 40-year-old held the world record from Paris 2024 when she took the gold with an effort of 167 kg one year ago in women's over 86kg.

Starting her campaign in Cairo at 155 kg, she gradually improved to 160 kg, 165 kg and then the big lift. But it seemed easy for the Nigerian as she raised the bar yet gain.

China's Zhu Wenjun (157 kg) took the silver ahead of Iran's Rozbahani Nikoo (152 kg).

"I feel on top of the world. I feel great and happy to be able to use my strength.

After Paris 2024, I rested well and resumed my training, and I trained hard for five months before coming here. I will keep on training and improving to make my country and my family proud," said the Paris 2024 gold medalist Oluwafemiayo.

"The secret is prayers, support from family and friends, and Kasaba," she joked when asked about the secret behind the strength and power of Nigeria players.

Golden again! 🥇🇯🇴

Jordan’s Abdelkareem Khattab becomes a 3-time world champion in Cairo after lifting 240kg to win the men’s up to 97kg title! 💪

🥈 Egypt’s Hany Abdelhady
🥉 Iran’s Aliasghar Abareghi#Cairo2025 #ParaPowerlifting pic.twitter.com/vEQ09LkRDx

— Para Powerlifting (@Powerlifting) October 16, 2025

Khattab wins third world title

Earlier, two-time Paralympic champion Abdelkareem Khattab from Jordan pushed through pain to clinch his third world title at Cairo 2025.

Khattab lifted an impressive 240 kg in his first round, enough to take the gold way ahead of Egyptian Hany Abdelhady (229 kg) and Iran's Aliasghar Abareghi (227 kg).

Khattab, the three-time world champion, though wanted to finish his campaign with some bigger numbers on the weights, as he went for 250 kg and then 271 kg but was unsuccessful - the Jordanian holds the world record at 270 kg set at Paralympic Games in Paris last summer.

"It feels great to raise the flag of my country again. I tried to break the world record but no luck. But I will regain my strength and comeback stronger," said the 34-year-old Khattab who admitted feeling some pain on his chest - he suffered an injury during training in Jordan two months back.

Live results from all the Cairo 2025 action are available on the World Para Powerlifting website. All categories will also be live streamed via the Paralympic Games YouTube channel.

The Medallists

Men's Up to 97 kg

Gold: Abdelkareem Khattab (JOR)

Silver: Hany Abdelhady (EGY)

Bronze: Aliasghar Abareghi (IRI)

Men's Up to 107 kg

Gold: Aliakbar Gharibshahi (IRI)

Silver: Sodnompiljee Enkhbayar (MGL)

Bronze: Bobby Body (USA)

Women's Over 86 kg

Gold: Folashad Oluwafemiayo (NGR)

Silver: Wenjun Zhu (CHN)

Bronze: Rozbahani Nikoo (IRI)