Para powerlifting
Para powerlifting is a bench press for athletes with a lower limb or hip impairment. Lying flat, the athlete lowers the bar to the chest, holds it still and presses it to locked arms. Each athlete has one attempt in each of three rounds.
New to para powerlifting? Start here
How long
Three attempts each at the bench press; the heaviest good lift counts
Lengths are from the rule book.
The big events, and why they matter
- 1Paralympic Games (para powerlifting)The top title in para powerlifting.Every 4 years · Holder: Paris 2024, 20 events: China 6 golds
- 2World Para Powerlifting ChampionshipsThe sport's own world title.Every 2 years (to check) · Holder: China the most golds
- 3Asian Para Games (para powerlifting)Asia's para multi-sport title, held after the Asian Games in the same city.Every 4 years
- 4Commonwealth Games (para powerlifting)Para events inside the Commonwealth Games programme.Every 4 years · Holder: Glasgow 2026
India
Rajinder Singh Rahelu's bronze in the men's 56 kg in 2004 is India's one Paralympic medal in the sport. Parmjeet Kumar won a world bronze in 2021 and the total gold in 2023 in the men's 49 kg. At the Asian Para Games India has 3 silvers and 6 bronzes [the three pages].
- Para powerlifting at the Paralympic Games: 1 bronze: Rajinder Singh Rahelu, men's 56 kg, 2004
- World Para Powerlifting Championships: 1 bronze in the senior best-lift table (2010 to 2023); 1 gold in the 2023 senior total table: both Parmjeet Kumar, men's 49 kg, bronze in 2021 and the total gold in 2023
- Para powerlifting at the Asian Para Games: 3 silver and 6 bronze, no gold: Farman Basha (bronze 2010 and 2014, written "Basha Farman" in 2014; silver 2018), Parmjeet Kumar, Sudhir and Ashok Malik (bronze), Sakina Khatun and Zainab Khatoon (silver), Raj Kumari (bronze)
Countries to know
India and the nations that have done best, biggest titles first.
- IndiaWorld Para Powerlifting Championships: 1 gold, 1 bronze (latest 2023); Para powerlifting at the Asian Para Games: 3 silvers, 6 bronzes (latest 2022)
- ChinaPara powerlifting at the Paralympic Games: 40 golds, 35 silvers, 23 bronzes (latest 2024); World Para Powerlifting Championships: 54 golds, 34 silvers, 24 bronzes (latest 2025)
- EgyptPara powerlifting at the Paralympic Games: 24 golds, 34 silvers, 23 bronzes (latest 2024); World Para Powerlifting Championships: 25 golds, 18 silvers, 27 bronzes (latest 2025)
- NigeriaPara powerlifting at the Paralympic Games: 26 golds, 18 silvers, 14 bronzes (latest 2024); World Para Powerlifting Championships: 26 golds, 17 silvers, 15 bronzes (latest 2025)
- IranPara powerlifting at the Paralympic Games: 15 golds, 10 silvers, 11 bronzes (latest 2024); World Para Powerlifting Championships: 19 golds, 23 silvers, 9 bronzes (latest 2025)
Who runs it
| Rules made by | World Para Powerlifting, Rules and Regulations 2025, version 1 |
| International federation | World Para Powerlifting, under the IPC |
| In India | Paralympic Committee of India (PCI), whose site shows the Indian para powerlifting team at Moscow 2026; the PCI is on the MYAS list for 2026 |
Whether the PCI runs para powerlifting directly is still to confirm.
Where and when it is played
The big events: the Paralympic Games every four years, the World Para Powerlifting Championships and the Asian Para Games every four years.