China's Liu Breaks World Record at Powerlifting Championships

28 Jul 2010 By IPC

China’s Lei Liu broke the World record on the third day of the 2010 International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Powerlifting World Championships in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

With a best lift of 222.50 kg in the Men’s 67.5 kg class, Liu broke the World record for seniors and juniors. Coming behind Liu were Iran’s Ali Hosseini with 217.50 kg and Egypt’s Shabaan Ibrahim with 207.50 kg.

In the Men’s 60 kg class, Algeria’s Hocine Bettir took first with a best lift of 140 kg. Following Bettir were Istvan Toth (HUN) and Younes Herradi (MAR) respectively.

For the Women’s 56 kg class, China’s Yan Yang took first with a best lift of 107.50 kg. Coming in second and third were Egypt’s Gihan Baioumy and Russia’s Irina Kazantseva. Gold medal winner Yang also placed bronze at the Athens 2004 Paralympic Games in Powerlifting.

Competitions will continue through 30 July at the Kuala Lumpur Stadium Titiwangsa, with athletes using their performances to measure their international standing. Athletes will also be competing to prepare for the London 2012 Paralympic Games, were Powerlifting will be part of the Summer Games programme.

Held just after the World Championships on 31 July, many of those participating in the event will be at the 2010 IPC Powerlifting Sport Forum. The forum will be an opportunity for all those involved in the Paralympic Sport to provide feedback and expert information on its future.

Powerlifting for athletes with a disability made its first appearance in 1964 at the second Paralympic Games in Tokyo as ‘Weightlifting’. Only men with spinal injuries participated with slightly different rules than are used today. Later it changed from ‘Weightlifting’ to ‘Powerlifting’ and now the competition is open to all athletes with cerebral palsy, spinal injuries, amputees (lower limb amputees only) and les autres who meet minimal disability criteria. Women competed in this sport for the first time in Sydney in 2000.