United Arab Emirates win two World Cup titles

United Arab Emirates celebrated their first two golds on home soil at the 9th Fazza 2018 World Para Powerlifting World Cup in Dubai through Adel Shanbih and Mohammed Khalaf on the penultimate day of competition (21 February).

In the men’s up to 88kg, Shanbih progressed from an opening lift of 156kg, then 160kg before ending with a lift of 164kg to win the competition. The 28-year-old is hoping this victory will be a confidence boost as he seeks to qualify for his first Paralympic Games in Tokyo, Japan, in 2020.

He was followed by India’s Arun Ranga, who cleared the bar at 158kg. Thailand’s Khamdam Chinnaphop also lifted 158kg but ended third due to a higher body weight (83.08-85.02).

The hosts also enjoyed success through two-time Paralympic champion Khalaf in the men’s up to 97kg. The Mexico City 2017 silver medallist lifted 212kg to comfortably take the gold. He will be one-to-watch at the Asian-Oceania Open Championships in Kitakyushu, Japan.

Turkmenistan’s Bayram Saparov (190kg) and Georgia’s Iago Gorgodze (185kg) completed the podium.

Mongolia’s Rio 2016 bronze medallist Sodnompiljee Enkhbayar won the last gold of the day in the men’s up to 107kg with a 220kg lift. Kyrgyzstan’s Zhyrgalbek Orosbaev (200kg) sealed silver and United Arab Emirates’ Abdalla Alnaqbi (185kg) rounded off a successful day for the hosts by winning bronze.

Competition will finish on Thursday (22 February) with the women’s up to 73kg, 79kg and 86kg, and men’s over 107kg events.

Live stream and live results of the Fazza World Cup are available on World Para Powerlifting's website.