Nigeria’s athletes at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games have now amassed a total of nine medals, six of them being gold. Sterling performances from Ndidi Nwosu and Bose Omolayo in their respective categories of the powerlifting event moved Nigeria up the medals table of the competition, placing the nation at number 9. It also means that Nigeria now ranks first among the African countries competing at the games.
Nwosu won her medal by dethroning the defending champion in 73kg powerlifting event. She lifted 140kg, enough to equal the paralympic record, asides getting her gold. Omolayo’s triumph came when she smashed the previous world record for her category- one she had set herself -by lifting 138kg.
Monday’s successes followed the superb display by Team Nigeria’s captain Lucy Ejike, also in powerlifting, the day before. She broke the world record three times en route to claiming gold in the 61kg women’s category, eventually running away with a memorable victory. Lauritta Onye also clinched gold in the women’s shot put for short statured athletes with a throw of 8.40 meters. Paul Kehinde and Roland Ezuruike both won gold for Nigeria in powerlifting events; Esther Onyema and Latifat Tijani collected a silver medal each, and Nnamdi Innocent took bronze for the country, all in powerlifting.
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