Kitakyushu 2018: Paralympic champions head stellar line-up

Paralympic and world champions are ready to compete at the Asia-Oceania Open Championships in Kitakyushu, Japan, between 8 and 12 September.

The attention will be on the world´s strongest Paralympian Siamand Rahman, who holds the world record of 310kg in the men´s over 107kg.

Iran´s legend, however, has already admitted he “will not try to break the world record in Japan.

“I am saving my best lifts for October´s Asian Para Games and, of course, for the next Paralympic Games.”

Iraq´s men´s up to 72kg world record-holder and two-time Paralympic silver medallist Rasool Mohsin will be another to look out for.

Female stars

Chinese Taipei´s most decorated Paralympian Lin Tzu-Hui (up to 79kg) is looking to return to the top of the podium in Kitakyushu after claiming bronze at both the Rio 2016 Paralympics and the Mexico City 2017 Worlds.

At the same time, China aim to finish top of the overall medals table with some of the strongest powerlifters attending the Asian-Oceanians, such as world champion Xu Lili (up to 86kg) and Paralympic gold medallist Yujiao Tan (up to 67kg).

It will also be exciting to watch Ni Nengah Widiasih competing. Indonesia´s first powerlifting Paralympic medallist is motivated after winning the European Open Championships in Berck-sur-Mer, France, last May.

Hosts medal dreams

Japan are hopeful of landing a medal through Hiroshi Miura in the men´s up to 49kg.

“I will have to fight because new talented athletes are emerging. I need to keep improving every day,” the 53-year-old said.

Eri MacDonald is another Japanese powerlifter who shared her excitement of competing in the women´s up to 55kg on home soil at the Asia-Oceanians: “I obviously took part in events in Japan before, but only on a national level. This is the first international one. So exciting!

“I want people in Japan to get to know that there is a female Japanese powerlifter who lifts heavy weights.”

Several top international powerlifters will participate in the Open competition such as Chile´s Parapan American champion Juan Carlos Garrido (men´s up to 59kg), Mexico´s three-time Paralympic gold medallist Amalia Perez (women´s up to 55kg) and Great Britain´s European title-holder Micky Yule (men´s up to 72kg).

The competition will feature 200 powerlifters from 29 countries will take part.

Kitakyushu 2018 will be shown live on World Para Powerlifting’s website and Facebook page.

Full results will be available on the Kitakyushu 2018 website.