Mr Sithat Chanthaboury (seated, centre), officials from various organisations, trainers and disabled weightlifters gather for the Para Powerlifting Workshop on Monday.

Lao weightlifters hope to set new record

Disabled male and female weightlifters from Vientiane are gearing up for competition through the Para Powerlifting Workshop and Competition for Data-Statistics Qualifiers taking place from February 21-23.
After attending the workshop on Monday and Tuesday, 10 new weightlifters and four national level weightlifters will test their skills at the qualifying event on Wednesday.
The opening ceremony of the workshop and qualifiers on Monday was attended by the Vice President of the National Paralympic Committee of Laos, Mr Sithat Chanthaboury, online by the President of Asian Development for Disabled Persons (ADDP), Mrs Tomiko Maejima, and senior officials from various organisations with support from JICA.
Mr Sithat said the qualifiers were taking place to improve the technical skills of officials and enable them to better organise competitions. 
Trainers and referees would select the best weightlifters for the qualifiers, and then prepare the top competitors for the International Para Games this year.
Last year, disabled athletes and national level weightlifters from Sikeut Vocational School attended the Para Powerlifting Competition and the National Level Data-Statistics Qualifiers at the school with support from JICA.
JICA has supported disabled Lao athletes since 2016 and has worked with the National Paralympic Committee of Laos.

By Sangkhomsay Bubphanouvong
(Latest Update February 22, 2022)