60kg: Bian wins gold and sets world record

Bian Jianxin of China celebrates her victory

(BEIJING, September 13)  China's Bian Jianxin won a gold medal with a world record lift in the Women's -60 kilogram category Powerlifting on Saturday, September 13. Egypt's Amal Mahmoud Osman won silver and Nigeria's Aghimile Igbiti won bronze.

Bian made a no-lift of 134kg on her first attempt. Unperturbed, Bian made a good lift at the same weight on her second attempt, setting new world and Paralympic records and handing herself the gold medal.

On her third attempt, Bian successfully made an impeccable lift of 135kg, thus once again breaking the world and Paralympic records.

Not content with making history on her home turf and perhaps to once again relish the electric atmosphere in the BUAA Gymnasium, Bian made a fourth attempt of 136kg, but registered a no-lift.

Left to fight it out for second and third were Amal Mahmoud Osman of Egypt and Patience Aghimile Igbiti of Nigeria after Arawan Bootpo of Thailand made no-lifts of 107.5kg on her second attempt and 112.5kg on her third attempt.

Oaman showed once again that Egypt is a major international player in Powerlifting, making good lifts of 112.5kg and 115kg on her first and second attempts, while Igbiti lifted 110kg and 115kg.

On their third attempts, Igbiti made a no-lift of 115kg, putting her in third place for the bronze medal, while Osman made a good lift of 117.5kg, consolidating her second place and securing the silver medal.

Khadija Acem of Morocco came fourth, making a good lift of 110kg on her second attempt but a no-lift of 112.5kg on her third attempt.