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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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
You can relive all the action from the Oran 2026 African Open Championships on YouTube<\/a><\/strong>, while live results are available here<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n Over 150 athletes are kicking off the African Open Championships tomorrow in Oran! \ud83c\udde9\ud83c\uddff<\/p>\n Superstars, what’s at stake, team lineups… read the full preview now on our website \ud83d\udd17 https:\/\/t.co\/KfZvOUopli<\/a>#ParaPowerlifting<\/a> #Oran2026<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Para Powerlifting (@Powerlifting) May 20, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Paris 2024 champion Onyinyechi Mark displayed ominous form to clinch gold in the women\u2019s up to 67kg with a world record effort of 148kg in her new category. She improved the previous mark by one kilogram \u2014 the former world record had been held by China\u2019s Cui Jianjin, set at the Cairo 2025 World Championships last October.<\/p>\n 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n 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\u2019s Paris 2024 medallist Fatma Elyan. Algeria\u2019s Khadem Saidi took bronze with 85kg.<\/p>\n With the World Para Powerlifting Regional Championships forming a mandatory part of the LA28 Paralympic qualification pathway,<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n \u201cI have so much love for Para powerlifting,\u201d said Mark.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen 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.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI will train harder to make sure I get my gold back again in LA,\u201d Mark had told Paralympic.org<\/a> after winning her first Paralympic gold medal at her maiden Games in Paris.<\/p>\n Rita Ferdinard, who stunned China\u2019s Paralympic champion Miaoyu Han<\/a> for the women\u2019s up to 79kg title at the Cairo 2025 World Championships, produced another powerful display to better her own African record with a 154kg lift \u2014 equalling Han\u2019s world record set at Paris 2024.<\/p>\n The Algerian announcer is doing a full vocal workout out there! She is NOT losing her voice today! \ud83c\udde9\ud83c\uddff\ud83d\udce2#ParaPowerlifting<\/a> #Oran2026<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/4meWjDDInA<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Para Powerlifting (@Powerlifting) May 22, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Another Nigerian star, reigning Paralympic champion and world record holder Folashade Oluwafemiayo, reinforced her dominance in the women\u2019s over 86kg with three successful lifts. Her final effort of 160kg \u2014 seven kilograms below her world record set at Paris 2024 \u2014 was enough for gold.<\/p>\n Earlier, Anifat Ganiyu secured gold in the women\u2019s 41kg category to set the tone for Nigeria\u2019s successful campaign.<\/p>\n Cairo 2025 silver medallist\u00a0Tolulope Ogundolie completed all three lifts successfully, with 109kg earning her the women\u2019s up to 45kg title.<\/p>\n Bronze medallist at Cairo 2025, Rukayat Ajiboye overcame fellow Nigerian and Paralympic silver medallist Esther Nworgu to win the women\u2019s up to 50kg with 115kg.<\/p>\n Thirty-year-old Chiamaka Ani claimed her first major international title in Oran with a successful 140kg lift in the women\u2019s up to 73kg.<\/p>\n She nailed it. \ud83d\udc51<\/p>\n Egypt\u2019s queen and Paralympic champion Rehab Ahmed wins the world title for the fourth time – and does it at home! \ud83c\uddea\ud83c\uddec\ud83c\udfc6<\/p>\n \ud83e\udd47 Gold with a 131 kg lift in the women\u2019s up to 61 kg category. #ParaPowerlifting<\/a> #Cairo2025<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/bsQMcVNNhN<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Para Powerlifting (@Powerlifting) October 15, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Another powerlifting powerhouse, Egypt\u00a0also celebrated several podium successes.<\/p>\n Seven months after her dominant campaign at the home World Championships, Egyptian star Rehab Ahmed continued her winning run in the women\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Egypt also celebrated a new champion in Naglaa Ragab A. Elshazly, who won the women\u2019s up to 86kg with 135kg.<\/p>\n In the men\u2019s competition, reigning Paralympic and world champion Mohamed Elmenyawy lifted 209kg \u2014 one kilogram below his effort at the home Worlds seven months ago \u2014 to win the men\u2019s up to 59kg title. Iraq\u2019s Mustafa Radhi finished second with 183kg, setting a new Asian record in the category.<\/p>\n Multiple-time Paralympic medallist Mohamed Elelfat showed he still has plenty to offer with three successful lifts in the men\u2019s up to 88kg, where his third attempt of 221kg earned him gold.<\/p>\n Relive Aliakbar Gharibshahi\u2019s \ud83c\uddee\ud83c\uddf7 record-breaking lift! \ud83d\udca5<\/p>\n The Paralympic & 3-time world champion raised the bar in the men\u2019s up to 107kg with a 255kg world record! \ud83c\udfcb\ufe0f\u200d\u2642\ufe0f\ud83d\udd25#Cairo2025<\/a> #ParaPowerlifting<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/ANfLlf2nXG<\/a><\/p>\n\n
Nigerian domination<\/h2>\n
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New stars\u00a0<\/h2>\n
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Success for Egypt<\/h2>\n
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