Oran witnessed an incredible display of strength and technique as two regional records and one world record fell at the 2026 African Open Championships held from 21 to 23 May in Algeria.
Three days of thrilling individual competition were followed by the team events, as Nigeria dominated both the Open and African categories with 24 medals, including 15 golds. Egypt followed with 14 gold medals, while Iran secured five titles. Hosts Algeria also celebrated atop the podium with one gold among their 13 medals.
More than 150 athletes from 20 nations competed for LA28 ranking points in Algeria at the third regional stop of the 2026 season, following the European Open Championships in Tbilisi, Georgia, and the Asia-Oceania Open Championships in Bangkok, Thailand. The Pan American Championships are scheduled to take place later this year.
You can relive all the action from the Oran 2026 African Open Championships on YouTube, while live results are available here.
Over 150 athletes are kicking off the African Open Championships tomorrow in Oran! 🇩🇿
Superstars, what’s at stake, team lineups… read the full preview now on our website 🔗 https://t.co/KfZvOUopli#ParaPowerlifting #Oran2026
— Para Powerlifting (@Powerlifting) May 20, 2026
Nigerian domination
Paris 2024 champion Onyinyechi Mark displayed ominous form to clinch gold in the women’s up to 67kg with a world record effort of 148kg in her new category. She improved the previous mark by one kilogram — the former world record had been held by China’s Cui Jianjin, set at the Cairo 2025 World Championships last October.
Mark followed her usual warm-up routine with a loud scream and raised arms before producing the best result of the championships at the Miloud Hadefi Olympic Complex in Oran.
The Dubai 2023 world champion completed three successful lifts, with her final attempt of 148kg sealing the gold. She finished eight kilograms ahead of Egypt’s Paris 2024 medallist Fatma Elyan. Algeria’s Khadem Saidi took bronze with 85kg.
With the World Para Powerlifting Regional Championships forming a mandatory part of the LA28 Paralympic qualification pathway, the 24-year-old sent a strong message to her rivals ahead of the upcoming Commonwealth Games, where Nigeria topped the table at the previous edition.
“I have so much love for Para powerlifting,” said Mark.
“When I wake up, I see myself in a team. It means a lot, the sport means a lot. I feel happy when I am doing it. I enjoy everything about it; if there is a challenge, I make sure I am there to match it.”
“I will train harder to make sure I get my gold back again in LA,” Mark had told Paralympic.org after winning her first Paralympic gold medal at her maiden Games in Paris.
Rita Ferdinard, who stunned China’s Paralympic champion Miaoyu Han for the women’s up to 79kg title at the Cairo 2025 World Championships, produced another powerful display to better her own African record with a 154kg lift — equalling Han’s world record set at Paris 2024.
The Algerian announcer is doing a full vocal workout out there! She is NOT losing her voice today! 🇩🇿📢#ParaPowerlifting #Oran2026 pic.twitter.com/4meWjDDInA
— Para Powerlifting (@Powerlifting) May 22, 2026
New stars
Another Nigerian star, reigning Paralympic champion and world record holder Folashade Oluwafemiayo, reinforced her dominance in the women’s over 86kg with three successful lifts. Her final effort of 160kg — seven kilograms below her world record set at Paris 2024 — was enough for gold.
Earlier, Anifat Ganiyu secured gold in the women’s 41kg category to set the tone for Nigeria’s successful campaign.
Cairo 2025 silver medallist Tolulope Ogundolie completed all three lifts successfully, with 109kg earning her the women’s up to 45kg title.
Bronze medallist at Cairo 2025, Rukayat Ajiboye overcame fellow Nigerian and Paralympic silver medallist Esther Nworgu to win the women’s up to 50kg with 115kg.
Thirty-year-old Chiamaka Ani claimed her first major international title in Oran with a successful 140kg lift in the women’s up to 73kg.
She nailed it. 👑
Egypt’s queen and Paralympic champion Rehab Ahmed wins the world title for the fourth time – and does it at home! 🇪🇬🏆
🥇 Gold with a 131 kg lift in the women’s up to 61 kg category. #ParaPowerlifting #Cairo2025 pic.twitter.com/bsQMcVNNhN
— Para Powerlifting (@Powerlifting) October 15, 2025
Success for Egypt
Another powerlifting powerhouse, Egypt also celebrated several podium successes.
Seven months after her dominant campaign at the home World Championships, Egyptian star Rehab Ahmed continued her winning run in the women’s up to 61kg, lifting 135kg for gold in Oran. Her performance in the Algerian coastal city was four kilograms better than her effort at the Cairo 2025 Worlds.
Fellow Egyptian Nawal Ramadan claimed her first major title with a flawless campaign featuring three successful lifts. She lifted 125kg to finish ahead of reigning world champion Esther Oyema.
Egypt also celebrated a new champion in Naglaa Ragab A. Elshazly, who won the women’s up to 86kg with 135kg.
In the men’s competition, reigning Paralympic and world champion Mohamed Elmenyawy lifted 209kg — one kilogram below his effort at the home Worlds seven months ago — to win the men’s up to 59kg title. Iraq’s Mustafa Radhi finished second with 183kg, setting a new Asian record in the category.
Multiple-time Paralympic medallist Mohamed Elelfat showed he still has plenty to offer with three successful lifts in the men’s up to 88kg, where his third attempt of 221kg earned him gold.
Relive Aliakbar Gharibshahi’s 🇮🇷 record-breaking lift! 💥
The Paralympic & 3-time world champion raised the bar in the men’s up to 107kg with a 255kg world record! 🏋️♂️🔥#Cairo2025 #ParaPowerlifting pic.twitter.com/ANfLlf2nXG
— Para Powerlifting (@Powerlifting) October 16, 2025
Iran shines too
Iran celebrated titles through Dubai 2023 Worlds silver medallist Ali Seifi in the men’s up to 65kg with 188kg, and Arangeh Jafari in the men’s up to 72kg with a successful second attempt of 205kg.
Cairo 2025 bronze medallist Aliasghar Abareghi completed three successful lifts to win the men’s up to 97kg — a category usually dominated by Jordan’s reigning Paralympic champion and world record holder Abdelkareem Khattab, who did not compete in Oran.
In the men’s up to 107kg category, Iran completed a clean sweep of the podium with Aliakbar Gharibshahi leading the standings on 240kg.
Another Paris 2024 champion, Ahmad Aminzadeh, secured gold in the men’s over 107kg after lifting 247kg on his second attempt.
Iraq also won two gold medals through Paris 2024 bronze medallist Rasool Mohsin (men’s up to 80kg) and Hangzhou 2022 Asian Para Games silver medallist Muslim Al-Sudani (men’s up to 54kg).
Reigning Paralympic champion Omar Qarada secured Jordan’s only gold medal after extending his dominance in the men’s up to 49kg with 170kg.
Local flavour
With the hosts fielding several experienced athletes, Algeria’s top-ranked Hocine Bettir finished fourth in the men’s up to 72kg Open category, but his 200kg lift was enough to secure gold in the African category. Egyptian legend Sherif Osman claimed silver with 190kg.
Bettir later guided Algeria to silver in the men’s team event, which was won by Iraq led by Mohsin.
Iraq also claimed the mixed team title after defeating Côte d’Ivoire.
