By Tom Degun

July 26 - Britain's Zoe Newson, the youngest competitor at the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Powerlifting World Championships in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, has become the world junior champion after a phenomenal display.



The 17-year-old from Suffolk, who suffers with dwarfism, was undaunted by competing at her first World Championships and looked confident with her opening lift of 77.50kg in the 40kg category.

The lift put her into fifth place at the end of the first round in the senior World Championships and first in the juniors. 

The Suffolk Spartans lifter then put a further 5kg on the bar, going up to 82.5kg, and again looked good with all three referees giving it as a good lift. 

With Vietnam's Thai Hong Nguyen missing at 85kg, Newson went into fourth overall.   

Going into the third round Newson was already confirmed as junior world champion and was looking to equal her junior European record with a lift of 85kg but unfortunately, she was given a no-lift.

If she had lifted the weight, she would have been on an equal total with China’s Tiecan Fu in third place though Fu would still have taken bronze in the senior Championships as she had the lighter body weight.

Newson said: "I am really happy to have won gold today and be crowned the world junior champion.

"It’s been a great experience and will help me for the Commonwealth Games in October."

Newson was coached by Louise Pennell and supported by Britain's squad coach, Dan Wagner. 

Adam Alderman also made his debut for Britain in the 48kg class as a senior lifter. 

He was successful with his first lift of 127.5kg and found himself in direct competition with China’s Yingguo Xiao who also opened with a good lift at 127.5kg. 

Both then went up to 132.5kg with Alderman getting his on a 2-1 referees decision and Xiao failing on a 2-1 against. 

This second lift for Alderman was a personal best for him in an IPC ranked event and knowing that a 135kg would be enough to beat the Chinese athlete, Alderman attacked the bar but was unlucky not the get the lift.

Xiao was successful with his third attempt at 132.5kg beating Alderman on body weight, both athletes finished eighth and ninth respectively.  

The event was won by Jordan's Omar Qarada who set a world record of 173kg in the process. 

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