Bangkok ready to host its first-ever World Cup

Bangkok will host its first World Para Powerlifting World Cup from Thursday to Saturday (6 to 8 May). It will be the third World Cup of the season after Bogota and Manchester in March.

The capital and most populous city of Thailand will be home to 54 athletes from nine countries from Africa, Asia and Europe.

Day one

Two sessions and four categories are scheduled for the first day of competition. It will be an all-male competition with the men’s up to 49kg, up to 54kg, up to 59kg & up to 65kg on stage.

Beijing 2008 Paralympic bronze medallist Narong Kasanun is the greatest hope for the host nation in the men’s up to 59kg category.

Iran’s Amir Jafari Arangah is the main star in the men’s up to 65kg. He is a two-time World Championships medallist with a silver from Mexico City 2017 and a bronze from Nur-Sultan 2019.

Day two

Friday will be the busiest day in Bangkok featuring four sessions with eight categories, six in women’s events (up to 41kg, up to 45kg, up to 55kg, up to 61kg, up to 67kg & up to 73kg) and two men’s events (up to72kg & up to 80kg). 

Indonesia’s Ni Nengah Widiasih is the biggest star on day two. She will be competing in the up to 41kg category as the reigning Rio Paralympics bronze medallist.

Other notable names in action are Turkey’s Besra Duman in the women’s up to 55kg and Sibel Cam in the women’s the up to 73kg. 

Twenty-year-old  Duman rising star is a bronze medallist from the European Championship in Berck-sur-Mer, France in 2018 and also from the Mexico City 2017 Worlds. Her compatriot Cam is the reigning European champion and Nur-Sultan 2019 silver medallist.

Bangkok 2021 day two will see three Paralympic medallists in men’s events.. 

Iran’s Nader Moradi, the London 2012 Paralympic champion, is going up against Thailand’s Thongsa Marasri in the men’s up to 72kg. The local veteran star took a silver medal at Athens 2004 and a bronze at Sydney 2000.

Bonnie Bunyau Gustin from Malaysia will spice things up in the men’s up to 72kg category as the reigning world and Asia-Oceania champion.

Another Iranian star, Roohallah Rostami, is the big favourite in the men’s up to 80kg. He is the reigning world champion from Nur-Sultan 2019 and a London 2012 Paralympic silver medallist.

Day three

Seven categories in three session will take place on Saturday, last day of the World Cup. 

Female powerlifters will compete in the up to 79kg, up to 86kg & over 86kg categories, while the men’s competition will close up with the up to 88kg, up to 97kg, up to 107kg & over 107kg.

All eyes in the women’s competition will be on the up to 79kg category with Indonesia’s Siti Mahmudah, Nur-Sultan 2019 bronze medallist, on stage.

There will be plenty of stars to watch out for in men’s events. Iran’s Seyedhamed Solhipouravanji is leading the way in the up to 97kg category as the reigning world and Asia-Oceania champion. His main rival in Bangkok will be Iraq’s Thaer Al-Ali, Beijing 2028 Paralympic bronze medallist.

Late Siamand Rahman’s successor Mansour Pourmirzaei will be one of the biggest stars in the World Cup. Iran’s three-time World Championships silver medallist will be competing in the men’s over 107kg category.

Georgia’s Iago Gorgodze will look to extend his fine form in the same category. He won the same World Cup event in Manchester and finished second in Bogota earlier this season.

The Bangkok 2021 World Cup will be shown live on the World Para Powerlifting website and the World Para Powerlifting Facebook page.

Complete results from the Bangkok 2021 World Cup will be available here.