Preview: Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games powerlifting competition

Jawad, 25, smashed the world record in April with a lift of 190kg to secure gold in the up to 59kg weight class at the 2014 IPC Powerlifting World Championships in Dubai, UAE.

England’s recently crowned world champion Ali Jawad will be one of nearly 40 athletes from 15 countries taking part in powerlifting at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games which get underway on Wednesday (23 July).

In total there will be four powerlifting medal events in Glasgow at the SECC Precinct which will take place on Saturday (2 August).

Jawad, 25, smashed the world record in April with a lift of 190kg to secure gold in the up to 59kg weight class at the 2014 IPC Powerlifting World Championships in Dubai, UAE.

In Glasgow, despite competing against opponents who are much heavier than him, Jawad will still start as strong favourite for Commonwealth gold alongside Nigeria’s Ifeanya Nnajiofor.

Like Jawad, Nnajiofor lifted 190kg at April’s World Championships, but could only manage seventh place as he was competing in the up to 72kg category, for heavier lifters.

Other contenders include Australia’s Abede Fekadu, a two-time Paralympian whose best international finish was sixth at the 2010 World Championships and India’s Farman Basha, a three-time Paralympian who finished fourth at Beijing 2008.

Another Glasgow 2014 powerlifter who set a world record in Dubai to win a world title is Nigeria’s Esther Oyema who will compete in the women’s lightweight division (up to 61kg).

Oyema lifted 125kg in April in the up to 55kg class, and despite her weight disadvantage in Glasgow, should still have enough to win gold. England’s Natalie Blake finished fifth behind Oyema in Dubai and will be optimistic of making the podium as will South Africa’s Chantell Stierman.

The men’s heavyweight (from 72kg) competition is likely to be a contest between two Malaysians lifters who have both recorded lifts of 195kg this year.

Yee Khie Jong is currently ranked 10th in the world in the up to 97kg division, whilst teammate Mohd Shahmil Md Saad is ranked 7th in the up to 107kg class.

Australia’s Jessica Gray will start as favourite in the women’s heavyweight class (from 61kg).

For further information, please visit the Glasgow 2014 website.