The second day of the World Para Powerlifting Championships, hosted for the first time on African soil in the New Administrative Capital (October 9–18), delivered early triumphs for Egypt’s squad with a gold and a bronze on the table. The championships are a landmark event: the first edition held on the African continent.
Competing in three senior weight classes — men’s 88 kg and 59 kg, and women’s 55 kg — the day featured fierce rivalry, lifting drama, and national pride.
In the men’s 59 kg category, Egyptian Olympic champion Mohamed El-Miniawy asserted his dominance by winning gold with a 210 kg lift, ahead of Iraq’s Mostafa Radi (silver, 203 kg) and China’s Yongkai Shi (bronze, 200 kg). Meanwhile, in the men’s 88 kg class, Mohamed Sobhy secured bronze with a 227 kg lift, following China’s Banban Yan (244 kg) and Iran’s Rouhollah Rostami (243 kg). Additional Egyptian efforts saw Mazher Tamam finish seventh (208 kg) and Islam Mohamed place ninth (200 kg).
In the women’s 55 kg division, Egypt’s Nawal Ramadan placed sixth with 115 kg, while Nigeria’s Esther Oyema lifted 125 kg to claim gold, Turkey’s Büsra Duman took silver (121 kg), and Russia’s Tamara Podpalnaya secured bronze (120 kg).
Analysts say the results underscore Egypt’s pedigree in powerlifting, especially on home ground. Dr. Latifa Saleh, a Cairo sports performance specialist, commented: “El-Miniawy’s victory reflects sustained elite preparation; hosting the championships offers exposure and motivation advantages that this generation of Egyptian athletes is capitalizing on.”
This stage is significant not only for the medals, but also as part of the qualification pathway toward Los Angeles 2028. Observers note that Egypt’s early success may pressure other national teams to accelerate their competitive planning.
Exclusive insight from within the Egyptian delegation indicates that efforts are already underway to use home advantage further: the local organizing committee is exploring extended access to training arenas and technical clinics for visiting nations — a move aimed at fostering goodwill and enhancing the event’s legacy.
Competition continues through October 18, culminating with team events in men’s, women’s, and mixed categories. Egypt’s strong showing early on has heightened expectations for golds and podium finishes in the days ahead — and the chance to anchor Africa’s first World Para Powerlifting Championships with a commanding performance.
