Paralympics: Para powerlifting day three preview

The third day of the competition is set to witness record-breaking performances with several powerlifting greats and newcomers to be in action on Saturday 28 August at the Tokyo International Forum.

Here is all that you need to know about the Tokyo 2020 Para powerlifting day three!

The men’s up to 72kg will open the day’s action with all eyes on reigning double world champion Bonnie Bunyau Gustin, who is in great form having set a new world record at the Dubai 2021 World Para Powerlifting World Cup in June. 

Gustin should be ready to tackle a strong challenge from China’s Nur-Sultan 2019 silver medallist Hu Peng and Rio 2016 Paralympics silver medallist Rasool Mohsin from Iraq.

Also watch out for the 40-year-old Nnamdi Innocent from Nigeria who would be eager to improve the medal colour after his bronze medal winning effort at the Rio 2016 Paralympics and Nur-Sultan 2019 Worlds.

The women’s up to 61kg final will be one of the highlights of the day with two athletes battling for their fourth Paralympic gold. Nigeria’s Lucy Ejike is a three-time Paralympic and two-time world champion while Mexico’s Amalia Perez topped the podium at Rio 2016, London 2012 and Beijing 2008. 

A thrilling showdown is expected between Ejike and Perez for the gold medal.

Among others prominent names in fray are Uzbekistan’s silver medallist at Nur-Sultan 2019 Ruza Kuzieva and Ukraine’s Rayisa Toporkova, a two-time Worlds bronze medallist.

Evening Session

The evening session begins with the women’s up to 67kg with a tussle expected between China’s Rio 2016 Paralympic gold medallist and two-time world champion Tan Yujiao and Egypt’s Fatma Omar, who is a London 2012 gold medallist and Rio 2016 silver medallist.

The presence of Nigera’s two-time World’s silver medallist Olaitan Ibrahim and Kazakhstan’s first Para powerlifter to win a Paralympic medal, Raushan Koishibayeva – silver medallist at Rio 2016 –, will make the contest exciting. 
In the last event of the day, the men’s up to 80kg final, China’s Rio 2016 Paralympics silver medallist Gu Xiaofei would be hoping to change the medal colour in Tokyo. 

His main competitor is set to be Nur-Sultan 2019 world champion Roohallah Rostami, who is also London 2012 Paralympic silver medallist, and Egypt’s Mohamed Elelfat, the London 2012 silver medallist in up to 75kg. 

Italy’s world junior champion Donato Telesca will be eager to make it big at his Games debut, while Lima 2019 Parapan American Games gold medallist Francisco Tulio Palomeque Palacios of Colombia should be also among the mix.

Complete schedules, results and records will be available on Paralympic.org.