Cairo 2025: Iran's Aminzadeh extends dominance with third world title

It was another golden day for Iran as Ahmad Aminzadeh extended his dominance in the super-heavyweight category on the final day of individual competitions at the Cairo 2025 World Para Powerlifting Championships on Friday (17 October).

Aminzadeh, the reigning Paralympic champion, clinched his third world title with a 260 kg lift in his second round and finished nine kilograms ahead of Gustavo Am Melo De Souza from Brazil in the men’s over 107 kg category.

The 34-year-old Iranian’s victory also ensured that the legacy of the late legend Siamand Rahman lives on in the super heavyweight category.

“After Paris 2024 Paralympics, I didn’t train much as I had some pain in my chest. But I’m happy that I won the gold here. I will go back Iran, work on my recovery and train harder,” said Aminzadeh who suffered an injury in Paris 2024.

“This is the first time I attempted to lift 270 kg, but it wasn’t meant to be here. I hope I can get it in the next competition.”

The heavyweight crown 👑 stays in Iran 🇮🇷

Ahmad Aminzadeh lifts 260kg to claim his third consecutive world title in the men’s over 107kg category.#ParaPowerlifting #Cairo2025 pic.twitter.com/1HkUr4KCTG

— Para Powerlifting (@Powerlifting) October 17, 2025

Tight contest

However, the fight was between Melo De Souza and Georgia’s Paris 2024 bronze medallist Akaki Jintcharadze for the second place as they stayed neck and neck in the second round, both lifting 247 kg.

The final round saw Melo De Souza finishing one kilogram ahead of Jintcharadze (250 kg). In the process, Melo De Souza improved his own Americas record from 236 kg to 251 kg while Jintcharadze broke the European record of 248 kg set at Tbilisi 2024.

“This is my first World Championships medal, and I worked very hard for this one. I wanted to take the silver, but the Brazilian went one better. The European record is special,” said Jintcharadze who won Georgia’s first ever Paralympic medal in the sport at Paris 2024.

In the battle between the reigning Paralympic champion and the reigning world champion, it was the world champion from China 🇨🇳 , Feifei Zheng, who came out on top.

She defended her world title with a lift of 153 kg in the womens up to 86kg category. #Cairo2025 pic.twitter.com/eTzM5aKzkl

— Para Powerlifting (@Powerlifting) October 17, 2025

Sweet revenge for China’s Feifei

China’s Zheng Feifei had to wait one year to settle the score with her old rival, Brazil’s reigning Paralympic champion Tayana Madeiros — and the result was sweet.

Feifei, the Dubai 2023 world champion, retained her title after a close contest with the Brazilian before the former succeeded with a second-round lift of 153 kg.

The big fight for the gold, in fact, began in the first round with the two champions starting at 147 kg before Feifei going ahead with 153 kg lift. Madeiros, meanwhile, faltered in the next two rounds.

Nigeria’s Ibeh Blessing managed 136 kg in her only successful second round attempt to take the bronze.

“I’m very happy to win the gold here. I competed with my old opponent (Brazil’s Tayana) again and happy to beat her. My strategy today was to lift at least kilogram more than my rival,” said Feifei, who holds the world record in the category at 159 kg set at Tbilisi 2024.

“I prepared for a year for this championship and aimed to break the world record here. There were a few mistakes, but I hope to improve in the next competition.”

Competitions in the individual events at Cairo 2025 ended on Friday (17 October) with the Team events - Men's Team, Women's Team and Mixed Team - to be competed on Saturday (18 October).

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

Women’s Up to 86 kg

Gold: Zheng Feifei (CHN)
Silver: Tayana Medeiros (BRA)
Bronze: Ibeh Blessing (NGR)

Men's Over 107 kg

Gold: Ahmad Aminzadeh (IRI)
Silver: Gustavo Am Melo De Souza (BRA)
Bronze: Akaki Jintcharadze (GEO)