…as team finishes 2nd on medals table
Organisers of the leading sporting award in Nigeria, Nigerian Sports Award, NSA, has hailed the stunning performances and milestone achievements of the Nigeria’s contingents to the 2019 World Para Powerlifting Championship in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan.
The championship which will live longer in the memories of sports lovers, had five world and 25 regional records broken, with the women’s up to 86kg competition headlining the highlights, where Nigeria’s Folashade Oluwafemiayo displayed extraordinary strength to retake the world record with her 150kg lift, overcoming a spirited challenge from China’s Zheng Feifei, who had broken the world record earlier thanks to a 147kg lift.
The Chairman, of the Award Panel, Dr. Kweku Tandoh heaped praise on the performance of the athletes, noting that their courage and the drive for success are key factors in the team’s milestone achievements at this year’s championship in Nur-Sultan.
“I am so proud of this team. They have been making the country proud in all of the competitions they have represented Nigeria in and I am not surprised with their performance at this year’s championship in Nur-Sultan. Their success story is a product of immense hard-work borne out of the courage and the hunger to be successful in all the competitions they participate in,” Tandoh said.
Nigeria finished 2nd on the medals table with 8 medals – 3 gold, 3 silver and 2 bronze; behind China Republic who had a total of 16 medals to finish top of the championship.
Lucy Ejike won Nigeria’s first gold medal at the championship in the women’s 61kg competition, with Bose Omolayo and Folashade Oluwafemiayo getting the other gold medals after setting a world record in the 79kg and 86kg respectively.
Loveline Obiji, Olaitan Ibrahim and Roland Ezuruike won silver, while Nnamdi Innocent and Latifat Tijani finished third to claim bronze.
The next world Para Powerlifting Championship will take place in 2021, at Eger, Hungary.
