By Paul Osborne

Ali Jawad has been named IPC Athlete of the Month for April ©Getty ImagesGreat British powerlifter Ali Jawad has been named the International Paralympic Committee's (IPC) Athlete of the Month for April.

The 25-year-old Briton received nearly 40 per cent of the public vote to earn the award following his world-record breaking performance at the 2014 IPC Powerlifting World Championships in Dubai last month.

During the Championships Jawad lifted a record 190 kilograms in the under 59kg category to clinch gold ahead of Iran's Hamzeh Mohammadi.

The lift was 0.5kg heavier than the previous world-record he set himself in 2013 en route to gold at the Asian Open Championships.

"Winning gold at the World Championships was the highlight of my career," Jawad told the IPC.

"It is really a dream come true.

"I've had so many lows in my career with suffering with Crohn's disease and the disappointment of London 2012, but I always had faith that if I kept working hard, I would have a good chance.

"Winning gold means a lot more to me than the world record.

"A world record can always be beaten, but I will always be a world champion.

"The world record was a bonus."

Ali Jawad suffered an injury during his final lift at the London 2012 Paralympic Games, where he finished fourth, but bounced back to win World Championship gold just last April ©Getty ImagesAli Jawad suffered an injury during his final lift at London 2012, where he finished fourth, but bounced back to win World Championship gold just last April  ©Getty Images

Jawad was nominated for the award ahead of four other athletes, including compatriot Sarah Storey, 11-time Paralympic champion in both cycling and swimming, American wheelchair racer turned sit-skier Tatyana McFadden, Egyptian powerlifter Sherif Othman and Norwegian swimmer Ingrid Thunem.

Nominations for IPC Athlete of the Month are compiled from submissions by National Paralympic Committees (NPCs) and International Federations (IFs).

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