Asian Para Games: Thrilling contests on cards in Hangzhou

The Xiaoshan Sports Center Gymnasium is set to witness the world’s best athletes asserting their status through incredible power and technique when the Para Powerlifting events get underway at the Asian Para Games in Hangzhou on 23 October.

Both the men’s and women’s competitions are expected to be thrilling rounds with the presence of Paralympic and world champions in the line-up of 173 athletes from 31 nations competing for 20 gold medals in China.

The home nation is expected to dominate as athletes head into the Asian Para Games after a powerful show at the Dubai 2023 World Para Powerlifting Championships in September. China have topped the medals table with 18 medals that included nine gold medals and several world records.

Paralympic champions Guo Lingling (women’s up to 41 kg), Tan Yujiao (women’s up to 67 kg), Deng Xuemei (women’s over 86 kg), Yongkai Qi (men’s –up to 59 kg) and Yan Panpan (men’s up to 97 kg) yet again stamped their dominance with their record breaking shows ahead of the Games.

They are expected to continue the momentum at home in Hangzhou 2022, helping China retain their top spot in medals table after the 10 golds in Indonesia 2018. 

Gustin, Khattab eye first gold

Elsewhere, there will be several familiar faces expected to shine at Hangzhou 2022. Asian athletes topped the podium in 15 out of the 20 finals at last month's World Championships in Dubai. Some of them will be aiming for their first ever Asian Para Games medals.

Paralympic champions Bonnie Bunyau Gustin from Malaysia (men’s up to 72kg) and Jordan's Abdelkareem Khattab (men’s up to 88kg) would be looking to win their first Asian Para Games gold medals after becoming world champions and setting new records.

Meanwhile, Vietnam’s Le Van Cong, who clinched his first world title in six years in Dubai, would love to stay on top ahead of Tokyo 2020 champion Omar Qarada from Jordan in the men's up to 49kg line-up.

Vietnam will also have Nguyễn Bình An, the defending champion in men’s up to 54kg but he is expected to face a tough challenge from Kazakhstan’s David Degtyarev, the new world champion.

In men's up to 80 kg, the fight for title will be between rivals - Paralympic and world champion Rouhollah Rostami and China's defending champion Gu Xiaofei.

Iran to rule heavyweight events

Iran men should dominate in heavyweight categories and continue the legacy of Siamand Rahman through the presence of Aliakbar Gharibshahi (men’s up to 107kg) and Aminzadeh Ahmad (men’s over 107 kg). 

However, Mongolia’s Sodnompiljee Enkhbayar, the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic gold medallist, would be ready to defend his men’s up to 107kg title. 

In women’s events, Indonesia will have a few names who can challenge the home stars including two-time Paralympic medallist Ni Nengah Widiasih (women’s up to 45kg), Siti Mahmudah (women's up to 79kg) and Sriyanti (women's over 86kg). Meanwhile, Vietnam’s Thi Linh Phuong Dang will be also eager to shine at Hangzhou after her Worlds bronze in the women's up to 50kg event.      

For South Korea, Indonesia 2018 medallists Lee Hyun-jung (women's over 86kg) and Lee Young-sun (women's up to 86kg) would be aiming to retain their medals. 

Para powerlifting, which has been part of Asian Para Games since 2010 Guangzhou Games, will run over five days in the Xiaoshan Sports Centre Gymnasium in Hangzhou.