A new weight category might be a challenge for many other athletes but not for China\u2019s three-time Paralympic champion Tan Yujiao, who smashed the four-year-old Asian record in her very first attempt in the Elite competitions at the Cairo 2025 World Para Powerlifting Championships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yujiao, who already had four world titles in women\u2019s up to 67 kg, pushed herself to a new limit lifting 147 kg and stunned reigning Paralympic champion in the category Mariana D\u2019\u00c1ndrea for the gold medal in the women\u2019s up to 73 kg final. The Paris 2024 and Tokyo 2020 champion from Brazil settled on 141 kg – seven kilograms lesser than what she lifted in Paris 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With one kilogram separating the top two leaders, it was expected to be a close fight for the gold, but the winner emerged after Yujiao\u2019s second successful lift of 147 kg. Meanwhile, D\u2019\u00c1ndrea couldn\u2019t succeed in the next two rounds. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the process, the Chinese also broke the Asian record of China\u2019s Xu Lili on 138 kg set at Tbilisi 2021 Worlds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another big name, Lucy Ejike, the three-time Paralympic and world champion, was expected to be in the medal contention but finished in fifth place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know what to say. I won the gold medal, but I felt I didn\u2019t do my best. In the plan, I wanted to touch the world record. I need to work harder,\u201d said the 35-year-old Chinese legend who faltered in the final attempt at the New Capital Sport City Hall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI have been playing in the women\u2019s up to 67 kg category for long time and every competition I had to lose my body weight. After Paris 2024, I thought if I need to grow and become powerful, I should move to this new category.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n