Jawad set for World Cup return

Ali Jawad has taken another step towards his dream of winning Paralympic gold after being recalled to the British squad for the upcoming World Para Powerlifting World Cup.

The Rio silver medallist has been restricted to increasingly sporadic competition since 2016, with the Crohn’s disease that he was diagnosed with at 19 threatening to put a premature end to a decorated career.

Jawad took bronze in the 54kg powerlifting at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games last year – a performance that went viral after his joyful celebration.

The 30-year-old has long stated his lifelong dream of becoming a Paralympic champion but the road to Tokyo is precarious, with flare-ups in his condition leaving him toeing a fine line between glory and a career-ending procedure.

But with the World Para Powerlifting Championships coming up in July, Jawad is ready to make another comeback, named alongside Micky Yule, Louise Sugden, Olivia Broome and Nathaniel Wilding in the quintet that will travel to Eger in Hungary to take part in the latest World Cup event.

With results contributing to Paralympic qualification rankings, it could be a vital moment on Jawad’s road to Tokyo, one that he is relishing.

“Looking forward to making my comeback after a very tough year fighting my health,” he said on social media.

While British Weight Lifting Paralympic Performance Director Tom Whittaker added: “Each athlete has the potential to demonstrate further progress and this event is perfectly placed and timed with the Worlds in July.

“The athletes have a fantastic opportunity to lay a marker down and defend later in the year. Each opportunity to improve or defend a Tokyo qualification ranking could be crucial this time next year ahead of the final pre games qualification event in Dubai.”