The 11th edition of the World Para Powerlifting Championships 2025 was held at Cairo, Egypt from 11 to 18 October 2025, marking the first-ever World Championships held in Africa.
- The event took place at the Egypt International Olympic Games City, New Administrative Capital, with 537 athletes from 70 countries, including all Paralympic champions from the Paris 2024 Games.
Exam Hints:
- What? 11th World Para Powerlifting Championships 2025
- When? October 11–18, 2025
- Host country? Cairo, Egypt
- Significance: First time hosted in Africa; start of qualification pathway for Los Angeles 2028 Paralympics
- Achievement of India: Joby Mathew won bronze in the Men’s 65kg Legend (Masters) category
- World records: Aliakbar Gharibshahi (Men’s up to 107 kg) and Folashad Oluwafemiayo (Women’s over 86 kg)
- Top Rank in Medal tally: China (10 Gold, 3 Silver, 2 Bronze)
About the World Para Powerlifting Championships 2025:
Organiser: World Para Powerlifting (WPPO), under International Paralympic Committee (IPC).
Hosts: Egyptian Paralympic Committee (EPC)
Events Included:
- Rookie & Next Gen World Championships
- Elite World Championships
Significance: Marks the beginning of the qualification pathway for the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games.
Rookie & Next Gen Competition:
- Dates: October 9–10
- Purpose: Platform for emerging Para powerlifters to compete internationally.
- Objective: Designed to develop young talent and inspire future champions.
Elite World Championships:
- Dates: October 11–18
- Participation: Featured 533 athletes.
- Categories: Competed in 20 bodyweight categories.
- Events: Concluded with men’s, women’s, and mixed team events.
India’s Performance:
- Vinay clinches the first gold medal for India at the Para Powerlifting World Championships 2025 in Cairo , Egypt
- Arunmoli bags bronze for India at the World Para Powerlifting in 86+ kgs category by lifting 92kgs.
- Joby Mathew Won bronze in the Men’s 65kg Legend (Masters) category. Lifted 152kg, surpassing his previous best of 150kg at the Beijing World Cup.
Notable Performances – World Records:
Aliakbar Gharibshahi (Men’s up to 107 kg): Won gold with a 255 kg total lift, breaking his own 254 kg world record from Dubai 2022; two-time world champion and Paris 2024 Paralympic gold medallist.
Folashad Oluwafemiayo (Women’s over 86 kg): Won gold with a 168 kg total lift, surpassing her own 167 kg Paris 2024 world record; two-time Paralympic and three-time World Champion.
Overall Medal Tally – 2025 World Para Powerlifting Championships:
| Rank | Country | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | China | 10 | 3 | 2 | 15 |
| 2 | Nigeria | 3 | 4 | 4 | 11 |
| 3 | Egypt | 2 | 1 | 4 | 7 |
| 4 | Iran | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
| 5 | Brazil | 1 | 3 | 2 | 6 |
China’s Achievement: China claimed its fifth consecutive and sixth overall title as the leading nation in Para Powerlifting.
Next Championships: The next World Para Powerlifting Championships will be held in Manama, Bahrain, December 2026, marking the first time the event will be staged in three successive years.
About International Paralympic Committee (IPC):
President – Andrew Parsons
Headquarters – Bonn, Germany
Established – 1989
