Tunkel victorious at home powerlifting World Cup

A win for hosts Hungary highlighted the opening day of the 2017 World Para Powerlifting World Cup in Eger on Thursday (4 May), as Paralympic bronze medallist Nandor Tunkel claimed victory in the men’s up to 49kg.

Tunkel reached a new personal best of 156kg, adding 1kg onto his medal winning performance from the Rio 2016 Paralympics.

He cleared all three of his attempts on his way to the win, on the same day as Eger was announced as the host of the 2021 World Para Powerlifting Championships.

Algeria’s Hadj Ahmed Beyour also posted three good lifts but had to settle for second place with a best of 137kg.

Azerbaijan’s Parvin Mammadov (131kg) was third.

In the junior up to 49kg Ukraine’s Boryslav Nekrotiuk eased to victory with 110kg. Argentina’s 2017 Youth Parapan American Games champion Rodrigo Villamarin (93kg) was second ahead of Hungary’s Krisztian Varhegyi (75kg) in third.

Egypt’s Taha Abdelmagid built calmly towards a 160kg third round lift to take the win in the men’s up to 54kg. Brazil’s Joao Maria Franca Junior (140kg) was second, reaching his best ever finish at an international competition.

Kostiantyn Panasiuk (137kg) added another podium finish for Ukraine in third.

Lithuania’s Egidijus Valciukas finished on top in the juniors with 115kg.

Brazil’s Bruno Carra opened his 2017 season with a bang in the men’s up to 59kg.

The Americas Open silver medallist lifted 172kg – 4kg more than his previous personal best - to finish first.

Chile’s Jorge Carinao (160kg) needed just one good lift in the opening round to secure second. Finland’s Juhani Kokko (150kg) was third.

In the juniors it was the turn of the next generation of Hungarian lifters to step onto the top step of the podium.

Gyorgy Sztano’s 120kg second round effort proved to be the winning lift. Kazakhstan’s Akzhol Zharylgapov (117kg) registered three good lifts for second. The United Arab Emirates’ Osama Albaloushi (76kg) also cleared all his attempts in third.

European Open silver medallist Justyna Kozdryk (94kg) landed on her second World Cup podium of the year in the women’s up to 45kg. Three good lifts led the Polish athlete to first place, adding to her silver from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, in February.

Algeria’s Samira Guerioua (85kg) followed Kozdryk onto the podium. Maria Luzineide Santos De Oliveira (75kg) claimed third for Brazil.

Spain’s Loida Zabala Ollero powered to a 96kg lift to win her first World Cup in the women’s up to 50kg. In doing so, Zabala Ollero beat Uzbekistan’s Asian Open bronze medallist Ruza Kuzieva (89kg) and Parapan American Games silver medallist Laura Cerero Gabriel (82kg) of Mexico into second and third respectively.

Guerioua’s teammate Adra Lamia triumphed in the women’s up to 41kg with a 55kg lift.

Rounding off Thursday’s action was a win for Chile’s Camila Campos (92kg) in the women’s up to 55kg. Armenia’s Greta Vardanyan (85kg) was second followed by Brazil’s Rene Belcassia Silva Souza (79kg) in third.

The Eger 2017 World Para Powerlifting World Cup runs until 7 May and will be streamed live on World Para Powerlifting’s website.

All events can also be followed on social media (Facebook.com/parapowerlifting, @ParaPowerlifting on Instagram and @Powerlifting on Twitter).

The World Para Powerlifting Championships will take place in Mexico City from 30 September-6 October, with more than 360 powerlifters from 65 countries competing in the Juan de la Barrera Olympic Gymnasium.