Cairo 2025: Athletes settle in ahead of Para Powerlifting showdown

The Cairo 2025 World Para Powerlifting Championships kick off in just a day’s time, beginning with the Rookie & Next Gen event on 9 and 10 October.

Athletes aged 20 or younger will compete across the two-day event for the first time ever, followed by the Elite World Championships, which will take place from 11 to 18 October.

The 11th edition of the World Para Powerlifting Championships is also the first to be held in Africa, while Egypt will be hosting its fourth major competition after the African Open Championships in 2022 and World Cups in 2023 and 2024.

⏳ The countdown is nearly over!

Just 1 day to go until the 11th World Para Powerlifting Championships in Cairo, Egypt! 🏋️‍♂️🔥#Cairo2025 #ParaPowerlifting @Paralympics pic.twitter.com/t2RqTKf2oS

— Para Powerlifting (@Powerlifting) October 8, 2025

Athletes ready to lift

The 10-day competition will be staged at the New Capital Sports Hall, a stunning venue located within the integrated Sports City in Egypt’s New Administrative Capital, east of Cairo.

With a capacity of 7,500, the hall is part of Egypt’s newest generation of sports facilities, originally built to host the 27th Men’s Handball World Championship (Egypt 2021).

Alongside eight bodyweight categories, the first day of competition will also feature the opening ceremony, scheduled for 18:30 (local time), just before the final two events — the women’s up to 50kg and 55kg categories.

Smooth start in Cairo

Although the first two days are reserved for Rookie & Next Gen athletes, nearly all the Elite competitors have already arrived in Egypt’s capital and settled into the Tolip Hotel Olympic International City, located within the Egypt International Olympic City.

“Everything is very good and very well organised. I am very grateful,” said two-time World Championships medallist Herbert Aceituno, who noted there was still one area that could be improved:

“If I could have hot drinks — coffee and tea — at lunch and dinner, that would be great since many people like to have hot drinks on those occasions as well.”

The Brazilian contingent, the second largest in Cairo with 25 athletes, have arrived in full force, including Paralympic champion Tayana Medeiros, who has quickly settled in.

“Since my arrival, I’ve really enjoyed what I’ve seen — from the reception at the airport to the arrival at the hotel. It’s an incredible experience to reunite with friends I’ve made along the way and train alongside people I’ve seen competing. I’m looking forward to the start of the competition,” emphasised the 32-year-old from Rio.

Training and first impressions

The training venue is located within the hotel area, around a half-hour’s drive from the competition site. The slightly longer journey doesn’t seem to bother the athletes, who can enjoy seeing more of Cairo. However, Italian Paralympic medallist Donato Telesca has another concern.

“I like the hotel and climate a lot, but not the food, haha,” the 26-year-old said jokingly.

By contrast, everything seems to be going smoothly for Indonesia’s two-time Paralympic medallist Ni Nengah Widiasih.

“All good in the hotel and the training venue — the food and room are good as well,” said the athlete, who will be chasing her first World Championships medal since 2014.

Live results from all the Cairo 2025 action will be available on the link. All categories will also be live streamed via the Paralympic Games YouTube channel.