China and Nigeria continue powerlifting success

"I would like to break my own world record and hopefully I can do that in Rio de Janeiro.”

Women’s 67.50kg

Souhad Ghazouani took gold in the day’s opening event. The French woman was untouchable, setting a Paralympic record of 146kg in her first lift.

In her second attempt, she tried for a new world and Paralympic record of 150kg, but was unable to raise the bar. In her third lift, she failed once again at 150kg.

With the encouragement of the crowd she decided to take a fourth lift outside of the competition at 148kg, but the lift was judged unsuccessful.

On her goal of breaking her own world record, she said: “I hope to do better in the future. I would like to break my own world record and hopefully I can do that in Rio de Janeiro.”

Yujiao Tan won silver for China. Having secured second place with her first lift of 136kg and her second of 139kg, she tried to challenge Ghazouani for the gold with a lift of 147kg in her third but failed valiantly.

Bronze went to Victoria Nneji. The Nigerian was unsuccessful with her first attempt at 121kg before comfortably lifting it in her second. She was never really challenged for third place and finished with a best lift of 125kg.

Women’s 75kg

Fu Taoying won her fourth consecutive Paralympic gold with the last lift of the third round ahead of the silver medallist, Nigeria’s Folashade Oluwafemiayo.

Oluwafemiayo lifted a Paralympic record of 143kg in her second attempt, having equalled the previous record of 140kg in her first.

Going into the last round, Fu opted to match Oluwafemiayo in lifting 146kg. Both athletes successfully completed their lifts to match each other for a new world and Paralympic record.

Fu won the gold medal courtesy of a weight advantage.

Wanting to celebrate in style Fu then came out for a fourth attempt of 147kg, outside of the competition, which she managed with ease to set a new world and Paralympic record.

Just as the crowd began to settle, Oluwafemiayo, not wishing to be outdone, announced that she would also be attempting a fourth lift outside of the competition.

With the bar set at 148kg, Oluwafemiayo took the gloss off of Fu’s win with an extraordinary new world and Paralympic record.

The bronze medal was won by Taipei’s Lin Tzu-Hui who finished with a best lift of 137kg. She couldn’t quite manage the weights lifted by Fu and Oluwafemiayo, but performed superbly nonetheless.

Men’s 75kg

In the day’s final event, pre-event favourite Ali Hosseini won gold. The Iranian was masterful in a class of his own.

Hosseini opened with a straightforward lift of 216kg, 220kg in his second and finished with a successful lift of 225kg.

The silver medal was won by Mohamed Elelfat of Egypt. Elelfat raised the bar at 213kg in his first attempt, 219kg in his second but failed with 224kg in his third.

Hu Peng won China’s third medal of the day after securing the bronze. He finished with a best lift of 213kg ensuring China finished the day with a gold, silver and bronze.