India’s veteran Para Powerlifter Joby Mathew clinches a historic Bronze medal at Para Powerlifting World Championships 2025

Khel Today Bureau

Cairo, Egypt: India’s veteran Para Powerlifter Joby Mathew added another glorious chapter to his illustrious career by clinching a historic Bronze Medal at the Para Powerlifting World Championships 2025, held at Cairo, Egypt.

Competing in the 65kg Legend (Masters) category, Joby lifted an impressive 148kg and 152kg, registering a total of 300kg, to secure the podium finish. Gold was won by Thailand’s Phongsakon Chumchai who lifted 162kg (155, 159, 162) followed by Peru’s Neil Gracia who lifted 161Kg

Joby’s journey to the medal was a story of grit and determination. After his opening lift of 147kg was declared invalid, he took it as a personal challenge, increasing the weight to 148kg on his second attempt and executing it flawlessly. Building on that momentum, he raised the bar further to 152kg, successfully completing the lift to surpass his previous personal best of 150kg achieved two months ago in the Beijing World Cup.

This medal marks Joby’s second World Championship medal, following his bronze at Dubai 2023, where he competed in the 59kg weight category with a best lift of 138kg. Over the years, Joby has won several international medals in the Masters category, consistently proving his prowess and longevity in the sport.

Expressing his joy, Joby Mathew said: “This medal means a lot to me. After my first lift was ruled invalid, I reminded myself that champions are defined by how they respond to challenges. I wanted to push my limits and make India proud once again. Lifting 152kg and improving my personal best was a dream come true. My heartfelt thanks to my coaches including India’s Chief Coach Mr. JP Singh, Mr. Nitin Arya, my teammates and the entire support staff who stood by me. ”

Chief Coach of the Indian Para Powerlifting Team, Mr. J.P. Singh, lauded Joby’s effort, saying, “Joby’s performance is an inspiration for every athlete. At his stage, maintaining this level of strength and determination is phenomenal. He showed great composure and self-belief after the first attempt and came back stronger. His medal is a proud moment for all of us and a testament to India’s growing presence in para powerlifting globally.”

Meanwhile, in the Senior men, India’s ace lifter Ashok narrowly missed the podium, finishing 4th after a strong 190kg opening lift. Despite valiant efforts, his next two attempts of 192kg were ruled invalid.

The Indian contingent continues to make the nation proud at the Cairo World Championships with consistent performances across categories, showcasing India’s growing stature in global para powerlifting.