Bonnie Bunyau Gustin (photo ⒸHiroki Nishioka for World Para Powerlifting)
Reigning world and Asia-Oceania champion Bonnie Bunyau Gustin from Malaysia will be among the top Asian stars in action in Thailand as Bangkok hosts its first World Para Powerlifting World Cup starting today.
The third leg of the World Cup of the season after Bogota, Colombia and Manchester, Great Britain in March will see 54 athletes from nine countries from Africa, Asia and Europe.
Gustin had his moment of glory at the Nur-Sultan 2019 World Para Powerlifting Championships when he surprised everyone with double world titles.
After clinching the men’s up to 65kg junior title on opening day, Gustin went on to shock Paralympic champions Paul Kehinde and Liu Lei on his way to his first senior major title. He lifted a massive 207kg for the up to 65kg gold.
His father Jenang was an international Para powerlifter who had participated in the Kuala Lumpur 2010 Worlds, while his elder brother Bryan Junancey Gustin was a national athlete.
Gustin will be in action later tomorrow in Bangkok. The other Malaysians confirmed for the event are Nicodemuis M Moses (-88kg), Mohd Shamil Md Saad (-97kg) and Wan Nur ZA Wan Azman (-107kg).
DAY ONE
Two sessions and four categories are scheduled for the first day of competition. It will be an all-male competition with the men’s up to 49kg, up to 54kg, up to 59kg & up to 65kg on stage.
Beijing 2008 Paralympic bronze medallist Narong Kasanun is the greatest hope for the host nation in the men’s up to 59kg category.
Iran’s Amir Jafari Arangah is the main star in the men’s up to 65kg. He is a two-time World Championships medallist with a silver from Mexico City 2017 and a bronze from Nur-Sultan 2019.
DAY TWO
Friday will be the busiest day in Bangkok featuring four sessions with eight categories, six in women’s events (up to 41kg, up to 45kg, up to 55kg, up to 61kg, up to 67kg & up to 73kg) and two men’s events (up to72kg & up to 80kg).
Gustin will spice things up in the men’s up to 72kg category as the reigning world and Asia-Oceania champion.
Indonesia’s Ni Nengah Widiasih is the biggest star on day two. She will be competing in the up to 41kg category as the reigning Rio Paralympics bronze medallist.
Other notable names in action are Turkey’s Besra Duman in the women’s up to 55kg and Sibel Cam in the women’s the up to 73kg.
Twenty-year-old Duman rising star is a bronze medallist from the European Championship in Berck-sur-Mer, France in 2018 and also from the Mexico City 2017 Worlds. Her compatriot Cam is the reigning European champion and Nur-Sultan 2019 silver medallist.
Iran’s Nader Moradi, the London 2012 Paralympic champion, is going up against Thailand’s Thongsa Marasri in the men’s up to 72kg. The local veteran star took a silver medal at Athens 2004 and a bronze at Sydney 2000.
Another Iranian star, Roohallah Rostami, is the big favourite in the men’s up to 80kg. He is the reigning world champion from Nur-Sultan 2019 and a London 2012 Paralympic silver medallist.
ⒸHiroki Nishioka for World Para Powerlifting
DAY THREE
Seven categories in three session will take place on Saturday, last day of the World Cup.
Female powerlifters will compete in the up to 79kg, up to 86kg & over 86kg categories, while the men’s competition will close up with the up to 88kg, up to 97kg, up to 107kg & over 107kg.
All eyes in the women’s competition will be on the up to 79kg category with Indonesia’s Siti Mahmudah, Nur-Sultan 2019 bronze medallist, on stage.
There will be plenty of stars to watch out for in men’s events. Iran’s Seyedhamed Solhipouravanji is leading the way in the up to 97kg category as the reigning world and Asia-Oceania champion. His main rival in Bangkok will be Iraq’s Thaer Al-Ali, Beijing 2028 Paralympic bronze medallist.
Late Siamand Rahman’s successor Mansour Pourmirzaei will be one of the biggest stars in the World Cup. Iran’s three-time World Championships silver medallist will be competing in the men’s over 107kg category.
Georgia’s Iago Gorgodze will look to extend his fine form in the same category. He won the same World Cup event in Manchester and finished second in Bogota earlier this season.
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