Paralympic champion Lidiia Soloviova to kick off her season

“It will be an interesting competition to watch. There will be many new young powerlifters who are all very talented and with a strong desire to succeed. I am getting ready to win the title as in 2015."

Three-time Paralympic gold medallist Lidiia Soloviova will launch her season at the ninth edition of the Fazza 2018 World Para Powerlifting World Cup in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, to be held between 17 and 22 February.

The Ukrainian aims to bounce back following a surprising fourth place in the women’s up to 50kg at the Mexico City 2017 World Championships.

Soloviova lifted 103kg in her first attempt but then failed to clear the bar at 107kg twice, finishing behind Egypt’s Rehab Ahmed (113kg), Vietnam’s Thi Linh Phuong Dang (107kg) and Turkey’s Besra Duman (106kg).

“I was very upset because I was so close to get that title,” she said. “But then I analysed my performance together with my coach Oleksandr Alfyorov and immediately left that behind and started focusing on the next competitions.

“I think patience and training will help me regain the world title.”

The last time that the 40-year-old claimed gold at a Worlds was in 2006. She followed that up with two silvers in 2010 and 2014.

Despite acknowledging the importance of having a good performance at the 2018 Fazza World Cup, Soloviova admits her main goal for the year is the European Championships, to be held in Berck-Sur-Mer, France, between 25 and 29 May.

“It will be an interesting competition to watch,” she said of the Europeans. “There will be many new young powerlifters who are all very talented and with a strong desire to succeed. I am getting ready to win the title as in 2015.

“I am training well, trying to relax more and following a diet.”

The Fazza World Cup will feature up to 128 powerlifters from 30 countries. The men’s up to 49kg, women’s up to 41kg and women’s up to 45kg categories will be contested on the opening day (17 February).

Other big names competing in Dubai will include Nigeria’s world champion and world record holder Folashade Oluwatemlayo in the women’s up to 86kg, London 2012 gold medallist Esther Oyema in the women’s up to 55kg and Paralympic and world champion Roland Ezuruike in the men’s up to 54kg.

Live results of the Fazza World Cup will be available on World Para Powerlifting’s website.