Colombia and Mexico shine in Americas' first virtual competition

Two-day online event Colombia 2020 attracts 73 lifters from eight countries in the Americas region 13 Oct 2020
Imagen
An image of a podium with the pictures of three women
The Virtual Competition Colombia 2020 was shown live on NPC Colombia and World Para Powerlifting Facebook pages
ⒸNPC Colombia
By NPC Colombia and World Para Powerlifting

Following the success of the Online World Cup Series, presented by BIGSER, the National Paralympic Committee (NPC) of Colombia organised the first virtual Para powerlifting competition in the Americas Region.

During two days (11 and 12 October), 73 lifters from eight countries tested their strength and technique competing online from their hometown. The competition was shown live on NPC Colombia and World Para Powerlifting Facebook pages.

Participants were placed in five different groups by weight categories. Colombia and Mexico shared two victories each, while El Salvador triumphed in one of the groups.

Among the winners, some of the most awarded athletes in the Americas, such as Mexico’s three-time Paralympic champion Amalia Perez and El Salvador’s Lima 2019 Parapan American champion Herbert Aceituno.

Perez won the Group A event with female lifters from the up to 41kg, up to 45kg, up to 50kg, up to 55 kg and up to 61kg. Colombia’s Aura Cristina Poblador finished second and Mexico’s Laura Cerero third.

The hosts had a clean sweep in the men’s Group B (up to 88kg, up to 97kg, up to 107kg and over 107kg) with Fabio Torres first, Jainer Cantillo second and Jhon Castaneda third.

 

Mexico took another win with Miriam Aguilar in the women’s Group B (up to 67kg, up to 73kg, up to 79kg, up to 86kg and over 86kg). 

Colombia finished second and third with Ana Pinto and Bertha Fernandez, respectively. 

The men’s up to 49k, up to 54kg and up to 59kg athletes took part in Group C. Aceituno was the winner followed by Brazil’s Bruno Carra and Colombia’s Omar Garcia.

The men’s Group D had lifters from the up to 62kg, up to 72kg and up to 80kg categories. Francisco Palomeque gave Colombia another victory, with Rey Dimas Vasquez of Panama in second place and another Colombian, Bryan Balanta, in third.

Angie Canaria, Methodologist of Para Powerlifting and organizer of the event tells us the sensations that the cup left, 

"It was great to see so many athletes competing with the same passion they show in regular competitions. I would like to than NPC Colombia, the officials, all participant NPCs and the fans who were connected with us. We hope to meet you again soon through our sport,” event organiser Angie Canaria said.

NPC Colombia also hosted a virtual competition for local athletes on 2-4 October. Full results from both events can be found here