Two-time Paralympic champion Soloviova claims gold at IPC Powerlifting European Open Championships

Two-time Paralympic champion Lidiia Soloviova claimed the European title in the women's up to 50kg event ©Getty Images

Ukraine’s Lidiia Soloviova claimed gold on the second day of the 2015 International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Powerlifting European Open Championships with the two-time Paralympic champion producing three fine lifts in Eger, Hungary.

Having been forced to settle for silver at the 2014 World Championships and bronze at London 2012, the 37-year-old was determined to roll back the years and return to the top of the podium in the women’s up to 50 kilogram event.

Soloviova, a gold medallis at Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008, produced her best lift of 110kg in the third round to seal the title, with Hungary’s Katalin Mezei finishing second with 55kg.

The Ukrainian also earned the Open gold as nearest rival, Shanshan Shi of China, was only able to lift 107kg, while Egypt’s Rehab Ahmed claimed bronze, achieving 96kg.

China proved to be the dominant force in the Open events with Lei Liu claiming one of his country's three gold medals on the day, as the Paralympic and world champion lifted 220kg to win the up to 72kg division.

Sergei Sychev of Russia finished adrift of Liu having achieved a personal best of 209kg.

it proved enough, though, to secure the European title ahead of Turkey’s Izzetin Kanat and Greece’s Nikolaos Gkountanis, who lifted 195kg and 187kg respectively.

China claimed three Open titles in the Hungarian city of Eger ©Facebook/IPC Powerlifting

Britain’s Ali Jawad claimed the men’s up to 65kg European gold having temporarily moved up to the weight class.

The reigning up to 59kg world champion lifted 193kg to fight off the challenge of Poland’s Grzegorz Lanzer, who achieved 178kg to win silver.

“Ali experienced a series of niggling injuries in the build up to the championships but his confidence was undented and focus on medalling undeterred,” said Tom Whittaker, British Weightlifting Paralympic performance manager.

“The step-up in weight class proved of minor consequence such was Ali’s power on the platform and leaves us all full of confidence heading into an Olympic and Paralympic year."

Jawad’s effort was only enough to earn silver, though, in the Open event as China’s Peng Hu edged ahead of the Briton in the final round. lifting 195kg.

Xuefeng Lu delivered the third Chinese gold with a lift of 185kg, seeing him take the victory in the men’s up to 59kg division, while a 178kg effort saw Russia’s Ildar Bedderdinov scoop the European title.