Maria Luzineide was one of two Brazilian gold medallists at the IPC Powerlifting World Cup in Rio de Janeiro ©CPB OFICIAL/Twitter

Brazil's Maria Luzineide and Bruno Carra each won a gold medal on the opening day of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Powerlifting World Cup in Rio de Janeiro, which is acting as a test event for this year’s Paralympic Games.

Luzineide claimed top honours in the women's combined up to 41 kilograms, up to 45kg, up to 50kg, up to 55kg and up to 61kg event.

The Brazilian, a bronze medallist at last year’s IPC Powerlifting Americas Open Championships, scored 92.58 points to finish ahead of Chile’s Camila Campos on 88.23 and South Africa’s Chantell Stierman on 85.46.

The final standings were determined by the AH formula, a system used to rank athletes when body weight categories are combined.

"This gold medal gets me really comfortable with my performance moving forward," said Luzineide after her success in the Carioca Arena 1.

"I aim at improving my result as the season goes on, especially in the next World Cup stages.

"I know I can go even further.

"I tried to lift 87kg here, but it was not possible.

"Anyway, I hope I can achieve that soon."

Brazil's Bruno Carra claimed top honours in the men's up to 54kg category
Brazil's Bruno Carra claimed top honours in the men's up to 54kg category ©CPB OFICIAL/Twitter

Carra also enjoyed success, winning gold in the men’s up to 54kg by lifting 160kg on his first attempt.

Cuba’s Cesar Rubio managed 140kg to take silver, while another Brazilian, João Maria França grabbed bronze after lifting 135kg.

"I could see that my preparation is going quite well towards Rio 2016," said Carra.

"As long as I keep focused in the next couple of months the result will be good.

"The facility here is also pretty good."

In the men’s up to 49kg, Hungary’s Nador Tunkel lifted 151kg for victory at the expense of Japan’s Hiroshi Miura, the silver medallist with a 90kg haul.

Americas champion Juan Carlos Garrido and regional record holder Jorge Carinao, both of Chile, were the gold and silver medallists in the men’s up to 59kg with 175kg and 138kg, and the podium was rounded off by Argentina’s Daniel Melgar with 122kg.

The IPC Powerlifting World Cup in Rio de Janeiro is the first of three to be held early this year.

The next edition is scheduled to take place in Dubai, United Arab Emirates from February 15 to 19, followed by the third in Malaysia’s capital Kuala Lumpur from February 24 to 28.

All three World Cups will give athletes the opportunity to increase their Paralympic rankings for Rio 2016.

The top eight men and highest six ranked women in each weight category on February 29, according to the IPC Powerlifting rankings, will be granted berths at the Games.

Action is due to continue in Rio tomorrow with the men’s up to 65kg, up to 72kg, up to 80kg and up to 88kg.