Former World Record holder, Yakubu Adesokan could not defend his world title from 2014 as he settled for gold in the 49kg male category at the World Para Powerlifting Championships in Mexico.
Yakubu lifted 175kg for the country to win Nigeria’s second medal of the championships.
Vietnam’s Paralympic champion Van Cong Le took gold in a thrilling men’s up to 49kg competition as he cleared the bar at 181kg. He set a world record of 183.5kg in his fourth lift, breaking the mark of 183kg he had set at Rio 2016 while Jordan’s Rio 2016 silver medallist Omar Qarada lifted 178kg to seal silver.
Meanwhile, 2016 Rio Paralympic bronze medalist, Nnamdi Innocent lifted 190kg to come fifth in the Men’s -72kg.
In the women’s 45kg, Nigeria’s Paralympic silver medallist Latifat Tijani was one of the favourites on paper but delivered a disappointing performance after three failed attempts.
China’s Lingling Guo was the surprising winner of the day as she took gold in the women’s at the first major international competition she was taking part in.
The 28-year-old set a new world record of 110kg, breaking the one of 108kg her compatriot Hu Dandan had established at Rio 2016.
Turkey’s Nazmiye Muratli, who was the reigning Paralympic and world champion in the women’s up to 41kg, left with a bittersweet taste after lifting only 3kg less than Guo to claim silver.
Great Britain’s double Paralympic bronze medallist Zoe Newson cleared the bar at 97kg to finish third.
