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Cairo 2025: Powerlifting greats Yujiao, Gustin rise to new challenges

Multiple-time Paralympic champion Tan Yujiao wins her first world title in a new weight category - women's up to 73 kg; Malaysia's Paralympic champion and world record holder Bonnie Bunyau Gustin conquers again in men's up to 72 kg; China's newcomer Zhou Shiwei strikes world title at international debut on the third day of Elite competitions at the Cairo 2025 World Para Powerlifting Championships 14 Oct 2025
An athlete reacts on the bench
China's Tan Yujiao does her rituals before going for a successful lift of 147 kg which was enough to take the gold in women's up to 73 kg at the Cairo 2025 World Championships.
ⒸHiroki Nishioka / WPPO
By Priyanka Sharma l For World Para Powerlifting

A new weight category might be a challenge for many other athletes but not for China’s three-time Paralympic champion Tan Yujiao, who smashed the four-year-old Asian record in her very first attempt on the third day of Elite competitions at the Cairo 2025 World Para Powerlifting Championships on Monday (13 October).

Yujiao, who already had four world titles in women’s up to 67 kg, pushed herself to a new limit lifting 147 kg and stunned reigning Paralympic champion in the category Mariana D’Ándrea for the gold medal in the women’s up to 73 kg final. The Paris 2024 and Tokyo 2020 champion from Brazil settled on 141 kg - seven kilograms lesser than what she lifted in Paris 2024.

With one kilogram separating the top two leaders, it was expected to be a close fight for the gold, but the winner emerged after Yujiao’s second successful lift of 147 kg. Meanwhile, D’Ándrea couldn’t succeed in the next two rounds. 

In the process, the Chinese also broke the Asian record of China’s Xu Lili on 138 kg set at Tbilisi 2021 Worlds.

Another big name, Lucy Ejike, the three-time Paralympic and world champion, was expected to be in the medal contention but finished in fifth place.

 

“I don’t know what to say. I won the gold medal, but I felt I didn’t do my best. In the plan, I wanted to touch the world record. I need to work harder,” said the 35-year-old Chinese legend who faltered in the final attempt at the New Capital Sport City Hall.

“I have been playing in the women’s up to 67 kg category for long time and every competition I had to lose my body weight. After Paris 2024, I thought if I need to grow and become powerful, I should move to this new category.”
Yujiao, however, admitted she was a bit 'nervous' before the competition. “Because in this category, we have very good opponents. Mariana and Ejike are very strong,”

“I wanted to touch my new limit. In future, I want to see a stronger Tan Yujiao,” she added.

 

 

Gustin conquers again

For the past several years, the men’s up to 72kg category has been thoroughly dominated by three-time world champion and world record holder Bonnie Bunyau Gustin, who has consistently lifted far above his rivals.

However, his dominance was tested at the Cairo 2025 Worlds with Chinese newcomer Zhang Pingkang giving tense moments by opening the finals with a lift six kilograms heavier than Gustin.

The 26-year-old Gustin began his campaign with 216 kg, while 22-year-old Zhang started off with a successful 222 kg lift. But the inexperienced Chinese faltered in the next two lifts settling for second place. 

The Malaysian great, meanwhile, calmly increased his lifts with successful attempts at 226 kg and then 230 kg. Just two kilograms shy of his world record mark of 232 kg, a new world record attempt at 233 kg in the Powerlift was an obvious choice but Gustin faltered. Great Britain’s Mark Swan, the Paris 2024 silver medallist, claimed the bronze at 217 kg.

He later admitted: “Yes, I was nervous. This was the first time I saw the athlete from China who started straight with 222 kg, and I began with 216 kg.”

“But I am very satisfied with my performance today.” 

 

Dream debut for Zhou

China continued to field new names at these World Championships as Zhou Shiwei came out of nowhere to win his first international title at Cairo. 

Zhou, the 21-year-old who trained for nine years for a dream debut, lifted 205 kg in his only successful second attempt enough to take the men's up to 65 kg gold. Iran’s Mohsen Bakhtiar, the Paris 2024 bronze medallist in men’s up to 59 kg, settled for silver on 201 kg ahead of Algeria’s Hoccine Bettir, the Tbilisi 2021 world champion, who managed 192 kg.

“I was nervous before my first lift, but I was lucky to have my coach always beside me,” said the rising star from China. 

“This gold was a milestone for me as this was my first international medal – this gave me a lot of confidence; and I look forward to break the world record in future.”

Surprisingly, the reigning Paralympic champion and world recordholder Zou Yi finished way below in ninth place with a lesser lift of 180 kg – Zou won the Paris 2024 gold with 215 kg. 

 

Egyptian legend Sherif Osman finishes 15th at his seventh Worlds with a 163kg lift and kept his Paralympic dreams alive.

“I feel I am on my way to Los Angeles 2028. I’m proud of my show today as I trained for just four weeks. I didn’t compete for gold or silver here – but to keep my participation on the pathway to LA 2028,” said 43-year-old legend who has three Paralympic gold. 

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 Elite competition continues until 18 October with three events lined up for Tuesday (14 October) with athletes competing in men’s up to 54 kg, women’s up to 45 kg and women’s up to 41 kg weight categories. 

The medallists

Men’s Up to 72 kg 

Gold: Bonnie Bunyau Gustin (MAS) 
Silver: Zhang Pingkang (CHN)
Bronze: Mark Swan (GBR)

Men’s Up to 65 kg

Gold: Zhou Shiwei (CHN) 
Silver: Mohsen Bakhtiar (IRI) 
Bronze: Hocine Bettir (ALG)

Women’s Up to 73 kg

Gold: Tan Yujiao (CHN) 
Silver: Mariana D Andrea (BRA)
Bronze: Chiamaka Ani (NGR)
 

Related Topics

Powerlifting
Yujiao Tan
Bonnie Bunyau Gustin
Sherif Osman
Hocine Bettir

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