Dramatic finale sees Mahmoud take gold in Dubai

The 2014 IPC Powerlifting World Championships, featuring over 330 athletes from nearly 60 countries, run from 5-11 April and are the first opportunity for athletes to begin qualification for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.

Egypt’s Randa Mahmoud broke the world record of Nigeria’s Paralympic champion rival Loveline Obiji on Thursday (10 April) to claim the world title by the smallest of margins at the 2014 IPC Powerlifting World Championships in Dubai, UAE.

In a thrilling conclusion to the day’s action, gold in the women’s -86kg category looked to be going the way of the 23-year-old Nigerian who had lifted 139kg in the second round, 4kg more than Mahmoud.

Obiji extended her lead further with her final lift of 142.5kg, smashing her own 14 month old world record in the process, to lay down the gauntlet to her older rival who still had to lift.

Mahmoud set the bar at 143kg and originally her lift was deemed by the judges to be a failed attempt, handing Obiji the gold. However in a dramatic twist Mahmoud successfully appealed the decision to be crowned World Champion and the new world record holder.

Russia’s Olga Kiseleva (123kg) claimed bronze following three good lifts.

Another Paralympic champion was felled when Nigeria’s Abdulazeez Ibrahim (235kg) out-lifted Egypt’s London 2012 gold medallist Mohamed Eldib (230kg) in the men’s -97kg weight class.

Ibrahim, 35, who missed London 2012 due to injury, took an early lead lifting 224kg, but failed with his second lift of 230kg, a weight Eldib managed to take first place.

In the final round, Eldib looked to seal gold with a 233kg haul, but failed. Sensing victory, Ibrahim posted 235kg, 9kg more than his only other successful lift, to take the world title.

“It was not that I expected to win gold today but it depended on my preparation and I had confidence” said a delighted Ibrahim who put his rivals on notice by saying he was “seriously preparing” already for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.

With injured pride despite bagging silver, Eldib made a lunge for the world record, attempting 0.5kg more than his 14-month-old mark of 240kg, but it was not to be.

An emotional Iraq’s Thaer Al-Ali (219kg) triumphed for bronze over China’s Dong Qi. Known as ‘fierce tiger’, Qi looked a strong contender for third place after he managed 216kg and Al-Ali failed at 217kg. However, in the final round the Iraqi bounced back lifting 219kg, a weight Qi failed to raise.

The junior title and new junior Americas record went to 18-year-old Argentinian Lucas Ezequiel Gareca (147kg) with Russia’s Denis Karasev (133kg) setting a new junior European record in silver and UAE’s youngster Ibrahim Almusaabi (90kg) in bronze.

The 2014 IPC Powerlifting World Championships, featuring over 330 athletes from nearly 60 countries, run from 5-11 April and are the first opportunity for athletes to begin qualification for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.

The competition also features the climax to the "Raise the Bar campaign," which has seen powerlifters and team officials take part in education seminars as part of efforts to reduce doping in the sport.

More information, including a full competition schedule and live results can be found at the Dubai 2014 website.

The competition is also being live streamed.