DUSHANBE, August 25, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- Tajik athletes with disabilities will take part in the 2009 World Powerlifting Championships for Athletes with Disabilities that will be held in Japan from September 9-13, according to the Committee for Youth, Sports and Tourism Affairs under the Government of Tajikistan.

The source at the committee said that Jamshed Sobirov and Sobir Sobirov would represent Tajikistan in the competitions.

Powerlifting is a strength sport, consisting of three events: the squat; the bench press; and the deadlift.  Powerlifting resembles the sport of weightlifting, as both disciplines involve lifting heavy weights in three attempts.  It evolved from a sport known as ''odd lifts'' which followed the same 3 attempt format but using a wide variety of events akin to Strongman events.  Eventually odd lifts became standardized to the three events (squat, bench, deadlift) and became known as Powerlifting.  Powerlifting meets take place across the world but mostly in the USA, UK and Russia.  Powerlifting has been a Paralympic sport since 1984 and is also a World Games sport.