Sudhir wins Para Powerlifting title with Micky Yule taking bronze

India’s Sudhir claimed the men’s heavyweight Para Powerlifting title with a Games record 134.5 points on Thursday evening.

The 27-year-old lifted 212kg to seal a narrow 0.9-point victory over Nigeria’s Ikechukwu Christian Obichukwu, while Scotland’s Micky Yule took the bronze.

In July 2010, Yule, now 43, stepped on an improvised explosive device (IED) while serving as a Royal Engineer search advisor in Afghanistan, which caused him to lose both legs and endure a shattered pelvis and fractured arm.

Competing at his third Games since – after finishing fourth at Glasgow 2014 and again at Gold Coast 2018 – Yule said: “I was going to be the nearly man of the Commonwealth Games.

“I was in the mindset tonight that there was no way that was happening. I have too many family here. I brought that intensity today. I wanted to go out and show that whole place.

“I couldn’t just drift through this competition. I needed to be emotional. I needed to be mean, more than ever. I needed to lift like it was my last ever lift.

“Everybody knew what I was going to do. What an atmosphere. It’s amazing – I finally got that bronze medal. It’s a weight off of my shoulders and I couldn’t be happier.”

Zoe Newson celebrated Commonwealth gold as Team England claimed a one-two finish in the women’s Para Powerlifting lightweight final.

The 30-year-old, who won silver in the -45kg World Para Powerlifting event last year after taking home lightweight bronze at Gold Coast 2018, won with 102.2 points – following a 101kg total – as team-mate Olivia Broome clinched silver with 100.

Hellen Wawira Kariuki completed the podium with 98.5 as Kenya sealed their eighth medal of Birmingham 2022.

Para Powerlifting has been on the Commonwealth Games schedule since 2002 but up until Newson’s victory today, no nation other than Nigeria had claimed gold.

Newson was delighted with the result and that she got to stand next to good friend Broome on the podium.

She said: “I didn’t know I was the first (non-Nigerian to win gold).

“I came here planning to do a personal best. I didn’t quite manage that but I got this [medal] instead.

“It was nice to have an England 1-2. Olivia’s not just a team-mate, she’s a friend too.”

Newson admitted she got emotional when she spotted her son in the crowd, adding: “It was lovely. My son was in the audience and when I saw him [from the medal ceremony], I just started crying.”

Paralympic champion Folashade Oluwafemiayo broke the world and Games record with 123.4 points on her way to clinching women’s heavyweight gold as Nigeria celebrated a one-two finish themselves.

The 37-year-old lifted 155kg on her way to victory with compatriot Bose Omolayo finishing 8.2 points further back to secure silver as Australia’s Hani Watson took bronze.

She was pleased to achieve the gold medal she had expected to take home, saying: “Everything was good for me here.

“We came early to acclimatise and train [she arrived 22 July]. The weather has been good, Birmingham has been good and it all went well.

“I did not just expect to win, I expected a gold medal and a world record and I got them. I am so happy.”

Bonnie Bunyau Gustin claimed Malaysia’s fourth title of the Games with gold in the men’s lightweight final.

The 23-year-old Paralympic champion lifted 220kg for a Games record-winning score of 154.6 points, to finish 9.1 ahead of silver medallist Mark Swan of England.

Nigeria’s Nnamdi Innocent sealed the final spot on the podium.

Gustin was shocked to break the Commonwealth record and hopes he made his father and former school teachers proud.

He said: “It feels great. I didn’t expect to do the record and I didn’t expect to win.

“My dad is watching on YouTube. I’m sure he’s proud of me.

“So many teachers told me it was not a good idea [leaving school], playing sport. I have proof now that it’s good.

“I think they will be proud now.”

 

Source: BC2022