British powerlifter Ali Jawad still has unfinished business with the Paralympics despite becoming world champion earlier this month.
The Londoner became the -59kg champion by lifting 190kg at the Powerlifting World Championships in Dubai, setting a new world record in the process.
Jawad admits after winning his first world title his thoughts are now firmly fixed on the Rio 2016 Paralympics - and putting some past demons to bed once and for all.
He came fourth at London 2012, missing out on the medals after having a lift that would have seen him won silver thrown out, reinstated and then thrown out again by the jury, who ordered him to relift 189kg minutes after he had done so the first time. He couldn't, and missed out on the medals due only to being heavier than the eventual bronze medallist from China.
He said: "It hasn't really sunk in that I'm the world champion yet. It doesn't seem like I am. Nothing has really changed for me.
A lot of people have asked me if being world champion has made up for what happened at London 2012. My first thought was that I need to win in Rio. My focus is definitely now on 2016."
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| Competing in Dubai (thanks to Ali for photograph) |
Jawad - Lebanese born but London bred - went into his latest competition in Dubai as world record holder in his weight class but momentarily lost it to Iranian lifter Hamzeh Mohamaddi, who lifted 186kg in the first round, 0.5kg than Jawad's record.
The 25-year-old responded with an unmatched lift of 190kg in the next round and reclaimed his world record, an impressive feat given he weighs less than a third of what he lifted.
"Our plan was to go in at the world record, but he went in higher in the first round. We weren't expecting that!", he said.
Next in Ali's sights is the final qualifiers for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in the summer. He is set to compete in the qualifiers in Coventry on 11 May at the Ricoh Arena, having already gained 160 points towards a place in Team England.
Only three powerlifters are able to go forward to the Games for England and Jawad reckons it will take a big effort from other lifters to make the 160 points target.
"I've already reached 160 and so has another lifter. It will be a big ask for anyone else to reach it.
In the grand scheme of things, the Commonwealths are not that important - they are in the same four year cycle as the Worlds which have to take precedence. It's still a competition I'm training hard for and it will be very difficult to win. I reckon my main competition will be from Nigeria."
Nigerian lifter Anthony Ulomman took bronze in Dubai to underline his podium credentials for Glasgow, albeit having lifted 7kg less than Jawad, who is relishing performing in front of a British crowd once more.
"I still see Glasgow as a home Games. Hopefully I can do well and if I medal it might start to make up for what happened in London," he said.
You can follow Ali's progress via his Twitter page, @AliJawad12
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