Powerlifter Le Van Cong continues to bring glory to Vietnam.

In the first lift, Cong successfully conquered the 178kg level, cruising to top spot on the table. Meanwhile, his two direct competitors for the title – reigning world champion Adesokan Yakubu (Nigeria) and 2016 Paralympic runner-up Omar Qarada (Jordan) – only managed to lift 175kg and 172kg, respectively.

The Vietnamese star registered for a weight of 181kg – his Paralympic gold medal achievement – in the second lift and realized it successfully. Yakubu suffered an unexpected failure, while Omar lifted 6kg more than his first-lift.

Cong set a target of 183.5kg for the final lift but failed to complete it. Nonetheless, he officially took the overall title, as both Yakubu and Omar failed to lift their registered weight levels.

As the champion, Cong was granted a fourth lift, and he finally managed to conquer the 183.5kg level, thus setting a new world record in the 49kg category.

The World Para Powerlifting and Swimming Championships 2017, which forms part of the 2017 Para Sports Festival, is currently taking place in Mexico from December 2 to 8.

Vietnam is represented by six athletes in the powerlifting competition across the men’s 49k, 54kg, 59kg, and 65kg categories and the women’s 50kg and 55kg categories, with Le Van Cong remaining the biggest gold medal hope of the country.

Earlier on December 3, Vietnam earned one silver and one bronze medal in the swimming competition, which respectively went to Trinh Thi Bich Nhu in the women’s 100m breaststroke SB5 and Do Thanh Hai in the men’s 100m breaststroke SB5.

Source: NDO