Cypriot athletes achieve success at the Para Powerlifting European Open Championships

The Para Powerlifting European Open Championships took place in Tbilisi, Georgia, from March 6 to March 11, 2026. Cypriot athletes Maria Markou, Andreas Charalambous, Maria Manakou, and Panagiotis Panagiotou qualified for and participated in the event. Maria Markou competed in the -73kg category, winning two bronze medals in the European Championship and two in the Open competition, totaling four bronze medals. She set new national records for Cyprus with a best lift of 103kg and a total of 201kg, although some sources inconsistently mention a 106kg attempt. Andreas Charalambous competed in the men's division, successfully lifting 143kg, 147kg, and 149kg. He secured 5th place in the best lift category and 2nd place in the total lift category. These performances represent the first European Championship medals in para powerlifting for Cyprus.