Large-scale Para Powerlifting competition held in Kitakyushu. World-class powerlifters also compete.
The Japan Para Powerlifting Federation (JPPF) held a press conference on July 20 at the Nippon Foundation Para Arena in Shinagawa, Tokyo, for the "2018 Kitakyushu World Para Powerlifting Asia & Oceania Open Championships" (co-hosted by the Japan Disabled Sports Association Japan Paralympic Committee and Kitakyushu City), to be held at the Kitakyushu Performing Arts Center from September 8 to 12.
Para Powerlifting is a bench press competition for athletes with lower limb impairments. It was adopted as an official event under the name "Weightlifting" at the 1964 Tokyo Paralympics.
There are no disability-specific classes; athletes compete based on weight categories. It is a dramatic sport decided in just a few seconds, involving lowering the barbell to the chest and then extending the arms to lift it.
It is rare for athletes with and without disabilities to compete under the same rules. Furthermore, many world records set under these conditions surpass those of able-bodied athletes, drawing significant attention.
Positioned as the championship to determine the top athletes in Asia and Oceania, this tournament will feature 31 participating nations and 234 expected athletes, making it the largest regional championship in the history of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC).
JPPF Chairman Susumu Yoshida explained the background: "When Tokyo was chosen to host the 2020 Paralympics, we considered holding an international competition as a rehearsal. Thanks to the smooth approval from the IPC and Kitakyushu City stepping forward as the host city, it became a reality." Regarding the venue being an arts theater rather than a sports facility, he emphasized that para powerlifting is a "show-worthy" sport: "This sport is simple, but when staged as a show, a theater is the appropriate venue. Since the 2020 Paralympics will be held at the Tokyo International Forum, we decided to hold it in a theater as part of that preparation," emphasizing that Para Powerlifting is a sport designed to be entertaining.
The competition features 10 men's classes, 10 women's classes, and a junior class, with 234 athletes participating, including 27 Rio Paralympic medalists. Japan will be represented by 29 athletes.
Attending the press conference were Tetsuo Nishizaki (Men's 54kg), Hideki Odo (Men's 88kg), Karin Morisaki (Junior Women's 67kg), and Taiwan's Lin Tzu-Hui, who won gold in Athens and Beijing and bronze in Rio.
Nishizaki, who competed at the Rio Paralympics, commented, "At overseas competitions, you have to worry about things like jet lag and meals, but competing at home allows you to focus entirely on the matches. I hope everyone feels the power and intensity of the world-class athletes at the venue." Odo, who placed 8th at the Rio Paralympics, expressed his determination: "I was injured in Rio, but now my condition is surprisingly good. I want to break my personal best for the first time in five years and win a medal."
Morisaki, the youngest competitor at 15, stated, "I truly love this sport. I want to absorb as much as possible by watching the performances of athletes competing at the world level."
Lin commented, "I'm truly happy to be here in Japan participating in this training camp. Japan has excellent training environments, including superb facilities for athletes with disabilities. I want to win gold at this tournament and at the Tokyo Paralympics."
The tournament will see attention focused on the performances of Japanese athletes aiming for the Tokyo Paralympics in two years, expectations for Shiamand Rahman (Iran), considered the world's strongest, to surpass 300kg, and the efforts of Le Van Cong (Vietnam), who lifts over three times his body weight.
Official website:
http://jppf.jp/index/page/id/177
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