Egypt

Egyptian powerlifter Sherif Othman wins gold in Rio paralympics

Egyptian powerlifter Sherif Othman has won the gold medal for the 2016 Paralympics men's powerlifting event held in Rio de Janeiro. 

Othman’s medal is the first for Egypt in the current Paralympics, which began on Sunday and runs until September 19th.

The silver medal went to the Brit, Ali Jawad.

Othman took gold after lifting a colossal 203 kilograms, breaking the Olympic record of 195 kilograms set in London four years ago.

Mohamed Yehia Youssef, a member of the Egyptian Paralympics committee board, announced that US$500 would be given to Othman as  a reward from the board for winning gold. 

In remarks, Youssef said that the committee has set aside $500 of prize money for winners of gold medals, $400 for silver medal winners and $300 for bronze.

Othman's victory extends Egypt's winning streak in weightlifting during this summer's Olympic and Paralymic Games in Rio. In August, Egyptian weightlifters Mohamed Ehab and Sara Ahmed took home bronze medals from the Olympics. Taekwondo fighter Hedaya Malak Wahba earned Egypt a third bronze medal for the Games.

Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm

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