The International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA) Powerlifting has announced that the 2021 IBSA Powerlifting and Benchpress World Championships will be held in Tbilisi, Georgia, from 25-28 October.

The competition is expected to attract nearly 100 male and female athletes from 10 countries.

Nezam Dodel, Chair of the sport’s committee, said: “We are absolutely delighted to announce the next World Championships, and to be staging the biggest gathering of lifters with a visual impairment in a new destination.

“Georgia will host this important event for the first time and we are confident it will be a memorable occasion. We are looking forward to gathering everyone together once again, to experience the incredible power and talent of some of the world’s best athletes.”

Teams will begin arriving in Tbilisi on 23 October ahead of classification the following day. A referee seminar will also be held before the competition gets underway.

After the Opening Ceremony on 25 October, three days of action-packed competition will follow from 26-28 October.

Ukraine were the dominant force at the last World Championships in Giza, Egypt, in 2019, winning all four team titles for men’s and women’s powerlifting and bench press.