Google Doodle commemorates powerlifting Paralympics 2024 event with animated

Day two of the Para Powerlifting competition at the La Chapelle Arena on September 5 promises thrilling battles as Paralympic champions will be crowned in four categories—two in the afternoon and two in the evening. Here’s what to expect from the main stars and the complete schedule in Paris.

Afternoon Champions

The women’s up to 50kg final will kick off the day’s action, with a highly anticipated showdown on the cards. Great Britain’s reigning world champion, Olivia Broome, is the favorite for gold, having also won bronze at the Tokyo 2020 Games. Despite her strong form, the rise of new talents at recent World Cups ensures fierce competition. China’s Jinping Xiao, who set a new Asian record of 123kg in Tbilisi, and Bose Bejide are also in contention. However, notable absentees include China’s Hu Dandan and Nigeria’s Esther Oyema, the world record holder with a lift of 131kg.

Following this, the men’s up to 59kg final will feature China’s Qi Yongkai, the defending Paralympic and world champion, as the top contender. He faces strong competition from El Salvador’s Herbert Aceituno, a medallist at Tokyo 2020 and the 2023 World Championships in Dubai, and Iran’s Mohsen Bakhtiar, who has shown commanding performances this season. The world record for this category (211kg) has been held by Egypt’s Sherif Osman since the Rio 2016 Games.

Evening Highlights

The women’s up to 55kg category will be one of the day’s highlights, with an exciting duel expected between Ukraine’s Mariana Shevchuk and Egypt’s Rehab Ahmed. Shevchuk is the reigning Paralympic champion and 2021 World Champion from Tbilisi, while Ahmed is the current world champion and world record holder with a lift of 135kg. Ahmed, who won silver at the Tokyo 2020 Games in the -50kg category, is in formidable form and poised to challenge Shevchuk.

The final event of the day will be the men’s up to 65kg final, where China’s Zou Yi will be the man to beat. Yi is the reigning world champion and world record holder with a lift of 222kg. However, Iran’s Amir Jafari Arangeh, who won silver at Tokyo 2020 and at the 2023 World Championships in Dubai, is determined to turn his recent runner-up finishes into gold.

Day two promises intense competition as some of the world’s best powerlifters battle it out for Paralympic glory in Paris.