Powerlifters live up to weight of expectations

Dubai - Three 'no lifts' by any one participant received a hearty round of applause.

The Seventh Fazza IPC (International Paralympic Committee) Powerlifting World Cup - Dubai 2016 concluded at the Dubai Club for the Disabled having successfully lived up to the weight of expectation.
Eight new world records (NWRs) at senior level, two NWRs among the junior ranks and 13 regional records is a testament to just how well an international cast of 210 powerlifters from 42 nations performed over the course of five days in Al Qusais.
Those awe-inspiring feats only tell half the story though as, amid all of the different weight categories and the 'A', 'B' and 'C' classifications, there was a camaraderie and unity of purpose among the assembled competitors that is rarely seen in sport.
Three 'no lifts' by any one participant received a hearty round of applause. "Getting to see some of these guys compete is inspiring and it gives you something to push towards," admitted the Republic of Ireland's Jack Colbert, who claimed the Emerald Isle's first-ever junior gold medal at any IPC Powerlifting World Cup with two personal bests (106kgs & 108kgs) in the men's U80kgs weight class.
"You look at the guys in your group and you think to yourself: 'That's where I want to be in a few years'. It gives you a boost to go and get something like that."
Like Colbert, Canadian Dylan Sparks medalled in the junior classification of this event with consecutive lifts of 75kgs and 80kgs in the men's U59kgs category sufficient to secure silver behind Saudi Arabia's Aseel Al Hawsawi, who bench-pressed 112kgs and 115kgs.
Both impressionable teenagers saw NWRs being set in their respective groups too, with Iran's Majid Farzin raising the bar to fresh heights (236.5kgs) in Colbert's competition and Egyptian Sherif Othman doing likewise (210.5kgs) in Sparks' tournament.
"Sherif Othman is one of the best powerlifters in the world and it was amazing to see that world record first-hand," reflected Sparks. "I'd only ever seen Sherif compete on Facebook and YouTube and the like previously, so to come here and watch him lift 210.5kgs for a world record was insane.
"It was awesome and the attendance was great. There were a lot of people in one room and it was a packed house. It's great to have all of these people trying to help you. You wouldn't think you'd have all of these people trying to help you in an individual sport, but you do. You have anybody - and everybody - trying to help you get to where you need to be."