Powerlifting: Taamaru chasing title defence

Auckland powerlifter George Taamaru will seek to defend his title at the world championships in Busan, South Korea, later this week.

Winner of the super heavyweight 100kg-and-over class in Kuala Lumpur in 2002 with a lift of 242.5kg, Taamaru suffered a severe shoulder injury in 2003 and has taken some time to recover fully from the injury.

He showed that he was getting back to his best with a 225kg lift at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne in March where powerlifting was included as a demonstration sport.

Taamaru is the only New Zealander competing at the world championships, which has attracted over 300 athletes from 53 countries.

- NZPA