A Plymouth councillor is preparing to represent England at the Commonwealth Powerlifting Championships in Canada.
Councillor Saahi Aroori, who represents Drake ward for the Green Party, will compete in the bench press competition in Winnipeg on Thursday, September 17.
Saahi has trained for four years and has been competing in powerlifting for just over two years.
She secured her place after qualifying at the English Bench Press Championships in Northampton and was subsequently invited to represent England in the women’s junior under 76kg category.
Saahi said: “I am unbelievably excited to represent my country internationally. I have been training for this for a while and it is a huge honour to have been selected.
“As a woman, it is empowering to be strong in a world where we are told to be weak, and to participate in a competitive sport.
“I hope to do everyone proud, especially my mum and friends, whose support I could not do this without.”
The Commonwealth championships will bring together competitors from across the Commonwealth in Winnipeg from September 17 to 27.
Saahi’s event will be livestreamed through the Commonwealth Powerlifting channel on YouTube.
Photographs © Wayne Perry & Saahi Aroori / Plymouth Post