D'Andrea wins historic powerlifting gold for Brazil

China extends domination with sixth gold and Nigeria's Bose Omolayo defends her Paralympic title on the penultimate day at the Tokyo International Forum 29 Aug 2021
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A woman posing with the gold medal in her right hand and a mascot in her left hand. She is having a big smile on her face
Mariana D'Andrea of Brazil celebrates the first-ever gold medal for her country in Para powerlifting at the Paralympic Games
ⒸKoki Nagahama/Getty Images
By OIS and World Para Powerlifting

The penultimate day of the Para powerlifting action in the Tokyo International Forum provided a big upset in the women's up to 73kg competition.

At the top of the table, Brazil’s Mariana D'Andrea took gold with her third lift of 137kg, with China’s Xu Lili securing silver. She lifted 134kg in her second attempt. Only 8kg separated third from sixth place.

D’Andrea’s win was the first Para powerlifting gold for Brazil, while the bronze taken by Souhad Ghazouani was the French athlete's fifth medal in five Paralympic Games.

Experienced French Para powerlifter settled for bronze with a 132kg-lift in the third and final attempt.

“I feel a lot of emotion and a lot of gratitude in becoming the first-ever Brazilian powerlifting Paralympic gold medallist,” D’Andrea said.

“I knew that this was going to be a difficult competition from the beginning, but for six years I have prepared, and today I didn’t do anything different [from my training].”

Khattab breaks the Paralympic record

Abdelkareem Mohammad Khattab of Jordan claimed the first gold on Para powerlifting day four at Tokyo 2020 with a win in the men's up to 88kg.

“I’m very happy,” Khattab said. “Only good feelings right now. I’ve been waiting for this medal for a long time.”

Khattab's win was never in doubt as he broke the Paralympic record in his third attempt. The new record is now 231kg.

Jordanian Para powerlifter has been in terrific form lately breaking the world record at the Dubai 2021 World Para Powerlifting World Cup in June.

His podium was the second victory for Jordan at Tokyo 2020, both in Para powerlifting. The country had only Paralympic gold before this year's Games.

Jixiong Ye of China took silver in the men's up to 88kg (220kg) with Egypt's Hany Abdelhady claiming bronze (214kg).

Omolayo defends her title

In the women’s up to 79kg, Nigeria's Rio 2016 champion Bose Omolayo successfully defended her title from five years ago.

The Nigerian secured her gold with an 141kg-lift in her third attempt. Omolayo went on and tried to break the world record in her fourth attempt but was unsuccessful at 144kg.

Ukraine's Nataliia Oliinyk took silver in her Paralympic debut with 133k, 1kg ahead of RPC's Vera Muratova who finished with the bronze medal.

“I was once again able to win gold by the grace of God," Omolayo said. "This medal will serve as a memory to my children and my grandchildren and great-grandchildren for the record that I have achieved.”

Torres makes history for Colombia

Sunday’s action was capped off by China’s sixth powerlifting gold of the Tokyo 2020, with Yan Panpan victorious in the men’s up to 97kg on his Paralympic debut with a 227kg-lift in his second attempt.

“I’m pretty excited right now. It’s hard to describe this feeling in words,” the Chinese said.

“My goal with the third lift was to break the world record. It’s unfortunate I wasn’t able to do it, but I will try again for the record soon.”

Finishing in third place behind Yan and Iran's Seyedhamed Solhipouravanji, Fabio Torres claimed a first Para powerlifting medal for Colombia. He lifted only 1kg less than Solhipouravanji who claimed silver in the third attempt with 222kg.

"I'm very happy and very proud to win the first-ever powerlifting medal for Colombia," Torres said. “More than an obstacle, the pandemic has been an opportunity to get stronger. I was able to train more than ever at my home. The result today is the fruits of that labour.”

Complete Para powerlifting schedule and results are available on the Tokyo 2020 page on  Paralympic.org.

Monday, 30 August marks the closing day of competition at Tokyo 2020 with four medal events: men's up to 107kg, women's up to 86kg, women's over 86kg and men's over 107kg.