Ruel Ishaku of Nigeria tastes gold.
Ruel Ishaku of Nigeria has won the gold medal in the Open EAD Powerlifting competition.
Ishaku remained in first place with his second attempt at 155kg, after unsuccessful first and third attempts at the bar. He finished with a final score of 190.2.
England's Jason Irving, who was fifth at the Paralympics in Athens two years ago, moved into silver-medal position with a lift of 167.5kg and final score of 180.8, ahead of Australia's Darren Gardiner who picked up the bronze medal.
Gardiner, a bronze medallist in Athens with a 225kg lift, settled for third place with 227.5kg and a score of 178.9, after an unsuccessful third attempt at 232.5kg that would have given him the silver medal.
New Zealander George Taamaru was hoping to improve on his performance at Manchester where he placed in seventh position. Taamaru surged to the lead in his group with a first attempt lift of 220kg and third attempt of 227.5kg. He eventually finished the competition in seventh place with a score of 168.4kg.
Veteran lifter Perumal Mariappan of Malaysia was eliminated from the competition following three unsuccessful attempts at 177.5kg. In 25 years of competition Mariappan's career included fifth place in Athens and fourth at the Manchester Games in 2002.
Twenty-nine athletes competed in the event, a single open category covering all weight divisions.
For more information and results, visit the Weightlifting Schedule and Results section of this Website.
- Games News Service