Hu improves world record to claim open title at IPC Powerlifting European Championships in Eger

A total of 230 lifters are scheduled to compete at the Championships ©Eger 2015

China’s Dandan Hu improved her own world record in the women’s up to 45 kilogram event to win gold at the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Powerlifting European Championships, which are taking place in the Hungarian city of Eger.

The 26-year-old had previously lifted 99kg in the South Korean city of Incheon in 2014, but was able to add a further kilogram to the mark to claim the open division gold ahead of Poland’s Justyna Kozdryk, who achieved 93kg.

However, the Polish athlete did do enough to retain her European title, having won gold two-years ago in Aleksin, Russia.

Britain’s Zoe Newson sealed open bronze and European silver having lifted a total of 90kg to mark her return to the sport after being ruled out of the majority of the 2014 season following a change in IPC classification rules.

She was able to compete again after the rules were altered again at the start of 2015.

The battle for the open gold in the women’s up to 41kg event promised to be fierce with China’s Zhe Cui going head-to-head with the Paralympic and world champion Nazmiye Muratli of Turkey.

However Cui, who holds the world record for the division having lifted 103.5kg in the Kazakh city of Almaty in July, unexpectedly struggled having only achieved 82kg which proved enough for just the silver medal.

Muratli took full advantage by lifting 100kg to retain her European title, while Russia’s Tatiana Rudyak and Poland’s Emilia Kasak claimed the remaining European medals on offer having achieved lifts of 68kg and 52kg respectively.

Laszlo Habis, Mayor of Eger, officially opened the Championships ©Twitter/IPC Powerlifting

The opening day of the Championships also saw Greece’s Dmitrios Bakochristos upgrade from his silver medal from 2013 after initially lifting 170kg in the first round, before extending his advantage over the field by achieving a second round total of 174kg.

Poland’s Slawomir Szymanski was some way adrift with a lift of 123kg which proved enough for European silver, while Russia’s Semen Kublitskii had to settle for bronze with a total of 115kg.

Meanwhile Russia’s Vladimir Balynetc successfully defended his up to 49kg men’s crown having lifted 161kg, with Hungary’s Nandor Tunkel and Balynetc’s compatriot earning podium finishes having achieved lifts of 150kg and 141kg.

The Championships, which were officially opened by the Mayor of Eger, Laszlo Habis, are set to continue until Saturday (November 28).