Cairo: India’s veteran para-powerlifter Joby Mathew added another glorious chapter to his illustrious career by winning a historic bronze medal at the 2025 World Para-Powerlifting Championships in Cairo, Egypt. In the 65kg Legend (Masters) category, Joby lifted an impressive 148kg and 152kg, for a total of 300kg, securing the podium spot. Gold was won by Thailand’s Phongsakon Chumchai, who lifted 162 kg (155, 159, 162), followed by Peru’s Neil Gracia, who lifted 161 kg.
Joby’s path to the medal was a story of courage and determination. After his opening lift of 147 kg was declared invalid, he took it on as a personal challenge, increasing the weight to 148 kg on his second attempt and executing it flawlessly. Building on this momentum, he further raised the bar to 152kg and successfully completed the lift to beat his previous personal best of 150kg, set two months ago at the World Championships in Beijing.
This medal is Joby’s second World Championship medal after his bronze medal in Dubai 2023, where he competed in the 59kg weight class with a best of 138kg. Over the years, Joby has won several international medals in the Masters category, continually proving his skill and longevity in the sport.
Joby Mathew expressed his joy and said, “This medal means a lot to me. After my first lift was voided, I remembered 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 bettering my personal best was a dream come true. My heartfelt thanks go to my coaches, including India’s Head coach Mr JP Singh, Mr Nitin Arya, my teammates and the entire support team supported me. ”
Indian Para Powerlifting Team head coach JP Singh praised Joby’s performance and said, “Joby’s performance is an inspiration for every athlete. At his stage, maintaining that level of strength and determination is phenomenal. He showed great composure and confidence 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 worldwide.”
In the senior category, top Indian athlete Ashok narrowly missed out on the podium, finishing 4th after a strong opening lift of 190kg. Despite valiant efforts, his next two attempts at 192kg were declared invalid.
The Indian squad continues to make the nation proud at the World Championships in Cairo with consistent performances across all categories, showcasing India’s growing position in global para-powerlifting.
