Nigeria’s reigning Paralympic and world champion Paul Kehinde has expressed his joy a after setting a new world record in the men’s 65kg category at the 2018 Fazza World Para Powerlifting World Cup in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on Monday.
Kehinde lifted 221kg to break the previous personal record of 220.5kg he set at the 2017 World Para Powerlifting Championships in Mexico in November.
His first attempt was him lifting 210kg before breaking the world record in his second attempt with a lift of 221kg. He however was unable to stretch the record after he failed to lift 223kg in his third attempt.
The 29-year-old also holds the Paralympic Games record of 220kg in the category. Kehinde broke his 2016 record in Mexico before breaking it in Dubai.
The lifter told our correspondent online on Wednesday that he took national coach Are Feyisetan’s advice him to believe in himself.
He said, “I’m very happy with my performance. I put God first in everything I do and I believe that is why I have been achieving these results.
“Coach Are and his wife also motivate me a lot. The coach is always telling us to believe in ourselves and that we can achieve anything despite our status. His words have always kept us going even when things are tough. Whatever I achieve, I owe to God, my teammates, coaches and Nigeria.”
The Nigerian was followed by Algeria’s Hocine Bettir, who lifted 178kg to win silver and Malaysia’s Bonnie Bunyau, who won bronze with a second lift of 155kg. (183kg).
Nigeria are joint first in the medals table with Jordan after winning three gold. Esther Oyema and Roland Ezuruike are the other gold medallists at the competition.
London 2012 Paralympic Games gold medallist Oyema won gold in the women’s 55kg after lifting 125kg while Paralympic and world championship gold medallist Ezuruike won gold in the men’s 54kg with a 192kg lift.
World champion and world record holder Folashade Oluwafemiayo competes in the women’s 86kg today.
Over 128 powerlifters from 30 countries are competing at the competition.
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