Pakistan’s Sybil Sohail secured a gold medal on Friday at the Commonwealth Powerlifting Championship in Sun City, South Africa, by winning the classic bench press event in the 47 kg category.
Her sister, Veronica Sohail, also made her mark by earning a bronze medal in the 52 kg category narrowly losing out to an English powerlifter who bagged gold, while an Indian lifter took the silver medal.
The Commonwealth Powerlifting Championship, taking place from October 4 to 13, will feature participants from 15 nations. Pakistan’s three-member team includes sisters Sybil, Veronika, and Twinkle Sohail who is set to compete in the 84 kg category. Notably, this is a debut by Pakistan in terms of women at the event, with the three sisters also being Pakistan’s first-ever women’s team to participate in the event.
Teams from countries like Australia, England, Canada, India, Isle of Man, Sri Lanka, Northern Ireland, Wales, Singapore, New Zealand, Scotland, Trinidad & Tobago, and hosts South Africa are all among the competitors.
Nooh Dastgir Butt, Pakistan’s gold medalist from the 2022 Commonwealth Games in weightlifting, looks set to compete in the Men’s portion of the Powerlifting Championship. Joining him at the competition will be Hasnain Raza, Haider Ali and Dr. Adnan who are due to participate in various master’s categories. The aforementioned male contingent of Pakistani lifters will depart for South Africa on October 6.