THE STARS of British Weightlifting and Para-Powerlifting will return to the Ricoh Arena this summer n what is anticipated to be the crucial final Olympic selection event before this summer’s Games in Rio.
Returning to Coventry for a third successive year, the 2016 British Weightlifting and Para-Powerlifting Championships will see a whole host of household names fight it out for a maximum of two places at the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Depending on results at the European Weightlifting Championships later on this month, British lifters will be fighting it out at the Ricoh Arena for a maximum of two places at the Olympic Games.
Heading the bill on June 11 and 12 will be Commonwealth Games Champion Zoe Smith but the 21-year-old will face tough competition in the women’s 63kg category from 2015 European Junior Champion Sarah Davies and 2016 English Champion Emily Godley.
World Youth Championship silver medallist Rebekah Tiler will be battling it out in the women’s 69kg category while the men’s classifications look set to witness equally fierce competition, with four elite lifters fighting to potentially claim their spot in Brazil.
London 2012 Olympians Jack Oliver and Gareth Evans, in the 77kg and 62kg categories respectively, will be looking to retain the British titles they claimed last year, as will Sonny Webster in the 94kg category.
Returning Welsh star Darius Jokarzadeh will also be looking to secure gold and a possible Olympic spot in the 105kg+ category and on Sunday the para-powerlifters take centre stage with former world record holder Ali Jawad and four-time Paralympian Natalie Blake competing for the title of British Champion.
British Weight Lifting CEO Ashley Metcalfe is hoping the event will prove popular again this year round after witnessing a sold out opening day of competition in 2015.
He said: “After last year’s record-breaking British Championships we are delighted to be returning to the Ricoh for a third year and look forward to continuing to build on the event’s profile even further during what is such an exciting year for the sport.
“The event has grown from strength-to-strength since we made the decision to move to the Ricoh in 2014 and the experience for both our athletes and spectators has improved significantly.”
Tickets for the British Weightlifting & Para-Powerlifting Championships are on general sale and can be purchased by visiting www.tickets.com.
