Huseynov breaks world record but settles for silver at IPC Powerlifting European Open Championships

Four titles were won on the penultimate day of competiton in Eger ©Facebook/2015 IPC Powerlifting European Open Champs

Elshan Huseynov set a world record in the men’s under107 kilogram event on the penultimate day of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Powerlifting European Open Championships but the Azerbaijani was forced to settle for silver in Eger, Hungary.

The reigning European champion was locked in a contest with Greece’s Pavlos Mamalos throughout the duration of the event but he was unable to overcome the world champion after the first three rounds of the contest.

Despite Mamalos securing both the Open and European titles with his lift of 235kg, Huseynov ensured he would end his participation in the Championship in style as he achieved an effort of 242kg to add a further kilogram to the record mark.

China’s Huichao Cai earned Open bronze having lifted 215kg, while the final place on the European podium went to Poland’s Ryszard Rogala after his success at the 196kg weight.

The second men’s event of the day saw China’s Qi Dong claim the up to 97kg Open title, with the Beijing 2008 Paralympic champion having lifted 225kg to finish 10kg clear of the European gold medallist, Anton Kriukov of Ukraine.

Serbia’s first medal of the Championships was claimed by Petar Milenkovic after his lift of 210kg proved enough to finish as the runner-up behind Kriukov, with Greece’s Anastasios Baos taking bronze having achieved 186kg.

Competition was well attended in the Hungarian city ©Facebook/2015 IPC Powerlifting European Open Champs

The Chinese team have proved dominant in the Open events during the week and women’s up to 67kg world champion Yujiao Tan ensured their success continued after adding a further kilogram to her previous world record, lifting a total of 138kg.

Russia’s Kheda Berieva was some way adrift in second place on 110kg, but it proved enough to win the European title ahead of Turkey’s Dilfiroz Kuzdagi, who managed 95kg.

Meanwhile France’s Souhad Ghazouani successfully defended her European title in the women’s up to 73kg competition as the 33-year-old produced a lift of 142kg.

The reigning Paralympic champion finished clear of Poland’s Paulina Puziak-Przywecka and Ukraine’s Alina Kumeyko, who completed the podium having both lifted 97kg, with Kumeyko’s heavy bodyweight meaning she would have to settle for bronze.