Njuguna And Wawira Shine Inclusive Spirit As They Lift Kenya’s Flag High At Para Powerlifting World Cup
Kenya’s para powerlifting athletes Joyce Wawira and Njuguna delivered outstanding performances at the World Para Powerlifting World Cup, proudly flying the Kenyan flag in a global arena that champions inclusivity in sports.
Wawira earned silver in the women’s up to 45 kg category after lifting 102 kg. She finished behind China’s Guo Lingling, who took gold with 124 kg, while Uzbekistan’s Nasiba Tashpulatova claimed bronze with 101 kg.
This marks Wawira’s fifth medal at the World Cup level. She debuted in 2016 in Malaysia, where she won bronze, and has since added gold (Nigeria 2020), silver (Egypt 2022), and gold (Egypt 2023) to her collection. Despite missing the podium in last year’s edition in Tbilisi, Georgia, Wawira had already secured her qualification for the Paris Paralympics by being ranked seventh globally in the women’s up to 41 kg category.
In the women’s up to 79 kg category, Njuguna also claimed silver with a lift of 105 kg. China’s Miaoyu Han won gold at 130 kg, while Russia’s Olga Kazankevich took bronze with 100 kg.
The World Para Powerlifting World Cups, governed by World Para Powerlifting (WPPO) under the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), are vital qualification events for the Paralympic Games. They provide a global platform where athletes with disabilities compete at the highest level, promoting equity and inclusion in competitive sports.
BY BARAKA SIMBA
Tags: Paralympic Athletes Para Lifting Paralympics
