Jordan’s Omar Qarada secured the first gold medal at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Para Games on October 19, winning the men’s 49kg para powerlifting final. Qarada, a back-to-back Paralympic champion, successfully lifted 176 kilograms on his second attempt to claim the title in Nagoya, ahead of Vietnam’s Le Van Cong and China’s Chen Liuxun, who took silver and bronze respectively.

Para powerlifting features athletes with lower-limb disabilities competing in the bench press, aiming to lift the maximum possible weight. Qarada expressed optimism about his future, stating that while he would celebrate his victory with family, his focus was already on the 2028 Paralympic Games in Los Angeles.

Japan’s Tetsuo Nishizaki finished fifth in the same event, lifting 133 kilograms. Nishizaki, who suffered a left shoulder injury earlier this year that limited his training for around six months, missed his third and final attempt at 138 kilograms but described the experience as enjoyable. The 49-year-old athlete thanked the home crowd for their support, saying he was moved and nearly brought to tears by the cheers upon entering the venue.

Nishizaki sustained a spinal cord injury in a traffic accident at age 23 and began using a wheelchair thereafter. Inspired by Japan’s successful hosting of the Tokyo Paralympics, he took up powerlifting in 2013 and debuted at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Paralympic Games, competing in the 54kg category. Reflecting on his performance in Nagoya, Nishizaki emphasized that he was not in peak condition but hoped that spectators, especially those witnessing powerlifting for the first time, gained a greater appreciation for the sport.