Mozah Alzeyoudi and UAE pick up a medal on first day of Powerlifting World Cup

Emirati powerlifter Moza Alzeyoudi lifted a medal at the Fazza IPC World Cup for the UAE. Courtesy HHC Media

The UAE won its first medal on the opening day of the Fazza IPC Powerlifting World Cup Dubai, with Mozah Alzeyoudi picking a bronze medal.

Alzeyoudi finished third in the Women’s Open 50 event at the Dubai Club for the Disabled on Sunday with a lift of 60kgs.

“I’m very happy, though my aim was to win gold,” said Alzeyoudi of Khorfakkan Club for the Disabled.

Egypt’s Zeinab Oteify and Nawal Ramadan, and Ukraine’s Lidlia Soloviova, won gold in the opening session. Ramadan won the Women’s Open 41 category with a best lift of 94kgs.

“It’s a difficult tournament, but I was determined to win,” said Ramadan, 22.

Compatriot Gihan Abdelaziz had to settle for silver in the Women’s Open 50 category after Ukraine’s two-time Olympic gold medallist Maryna Soloviova had a best lift of 102kgs.

IPC World Championship gold medallist and 2008 Paralympics bronze medallist Oteify won the Women’s Open 45 category with a best lift of 97kgs.

This year’s competition has attracted 133 athletes from 24 countries.

The championships are organised by the Hamdan bin Mohammed Heritage Centre and Dubai Club for the Disabled with the support of the UAE Paralympic Committee.

The event runs until Wednesday and starts at 10.30am daily.

This is the fourth championship under the umbrella of the Fazza Championships for People with Disability to be held this season. The Fazza International Championship for Boccia will be held next month, followed by Fazza International Wheelchair Basketball Championships in May.

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