Brazil, Egypt rule the roost in season opener

Nigerian stars dominate World Cup in front of home fans in Abuja 12 Feb 2020
Imagen
A man on a bench press with six discus in front of the bench
Egypt's Sherif Osman celebrating his victory at the Abuja 2020 World Cup. He considered the event a first step towards a fourth Paralympic gold in Tokyo
ⒸHiroki Nishioka for World Para Powerlifting
By World Para Powerlifting

Brazil and Egypt had a lot to celebrate at the season-opener World Para Powerlifting World Cup in Abuja, Nigeria. While the hosts topped the medals table, the Brazilian and Egyptian teams managed to clinch medals with all but one of their athletes; clinching three golds, respectively.

Lima 2019 Parapan American champion Joao Franca Junior gave Brazil its first victory in the men’s up to 49kg with a 145kg lift.

Rio 2016 silver medallist Evanio da Silva (196kg) won the men’s up to 88kg and Mateus de Assis (221kg) finished first in the men’s up to 107kg.

Three-time Paralympic champion Sherif Osman led the way for Egypt taking gold in the men’s up to 59kg.

“I’m very happy with the competition and my result of 197kg. My next stop will be at the Fazza [Dubai] World Cup where I hope to go over 200kg,” said a confident Osman adding, “For Tokyo I have two goals, win one more gold medal and break my world record again with 211.5kg.”

Mexico City 2017 and Nur-Sultan 2019 world champion Rehab Ahmed of Egypt dominated the women’s up to 50kg and took gold with a lift of 115kg.

London 2012 medallist Mohamed Elelfat was responsible for the other Egyptian victory (210kg) in the men’s up to 80kg.

Nigerian Paralympic stars did not disappoint the home crowd with Rio 2016 medallist Latifat Tijani breaking the African record (112kg) to win the women’s up to 45kg.

The hosts topped the podium in 13 events, including the women’s up to 61kg with three-time Paralympic champion Lucy Ejike (135kg).

On the men’s side, Rio 2016 champions were responsible for two out five Nigerian golds.

Roland Ezuruike (170kg) won the men’s up to 54kg while Paul Kehinde (194kg) clinched the victory in the men’s up to 65kg.

Kenya was the other nation to win a gold medal in the World Cup with Hellen Wawira Kariuki in the women’s up to 41kg.

All results and medallists from Abuja can be found on the World Para Powerlifting website.

The next stop in the World Cup season will be in Manchester, England, from 20 to 23 February.