Hani Watson is eyeing more history, headlining a stacked para powerlifting team searching for Australia’s maiden Commonwealth Games gold medal in the sport.Bronze Commonwealth Games medallist Watson is part of a six-strong squad and will lead the charge in the women’s heavyweight division at the Glasgow Games starting in late July.
Ben Wright will also look to add to his men’s heavyweight bronze medal as he prepares for a record fourth Commonwealth Games appearance.
As Wright becomes the first Australian para powerlifter to achieve the feat, rising star Daniel Bos will make his Games debut in the men’s lightweight division.Watson’s bronze medal in Birmingham was Australia’s first Commonwealth Games para powerlifting medal since 2006 and came just seven months after the Queensland local started competing internationally.
“Winning bronze in Birmingham was an unforgettable moment, and it’s given me even more motivation heading into Glasgow,” Watson said of her 2022 breakthrough.
“To have another opportunity to represent Australia on the Commonwealth stage means everything.”
Wright, who had finished fourth in 2022, was later awarded bronze after India’s gold medalist Sudhir was disqualified due to an anti-doping violation.
In-form Watson delivered a starring performance at this month’s Asia-Oceania Championships in Bangkok to guide Australia to second on the medal tally behind China.
The 2024 Paralympian won gold in both Oceania best lift and Oceania total lift, and bronze in the Open best lift.
Bos, a bodybuilder who also dabbles in acting, lifted three times his body weight in the under 49kg men’s division to also claim gold in Oceania best lift and silver in Oceania total lift.
Jade Pritchard and Natasha Price will also make their debut in Glasgow and compete in the women’s lightweight division after gold medal-winning performances in Bangkok.
AUSTRALIA’S PARA POWERLIFTING TEAM IN GLASGOW:
Daniel Bos, men’s lightweight, debut
Natasha Price, women’s lightweight, debut
Jade Pritchard, women’s lightweight, debut
Hani Watson, women’s heavyweight
Cameron Whittington, men’s heavyweight
Ben Wright, men’s heavyweight
Australian Associated Press
