Rio 2016 preview: women’s up to 45kg

China’s Dandan Hu has consistently finished on the top of the podium on her road to the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.

Perhaps the 27-year-old was spurred on by a fifth place finish from the 2014 World Championships.

She improved significantly on her 90kg Worlds lift at the Incheon 2014 Asian Para Games where she hauled 99kg.

Her absolute peak however came from her 2016 IPC Powerlifting World Cup performance, where she reached a new world record of 106kg in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Those who have been left in Hu’s wake include Nigeria’s Latifat Tijani and Egypt’s Zeinab Oteify, who are ranked second and third respectively in the rankings for Rio 2016.

Poland’s World Championships silver medallist Justyna Kozdryk and Ukraine’s world champion Rayisa Toporkova are also not to be discounted.

You can catch the women’s up to 45kg on 9 September at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. All Para powerlifting events will be contested at the Riocentro – Pavilion 2.