Recently updated on February 12th, 2023 at 12:47 pm
Nigeria has won a total of twelve medals comprising nine gold and three silver at the Para Powerlifting 2022 African Open Championships in Cairo, Egypt.
At the end of the four-day event on 30 October 2022 held at the Dr. Hassan Moustafa Sports Hall, the Nigerian para powerlifters created three world records and two African records.
Roland Ezuruike, Esther Nworgu, Latifat Tijani, Kafila Almaruf, Folashade Oluwafemiayo, Onyinyechi Gift Mark, Loveline Obiji, and Bose Omolayo won individual gold medals for the country while a gold medal was also won in the team’s event for women.
Bose Bejide, Lucy Ejike, and Thomas Kure won the three silver medals. The gold medal won at the team’s event was however not recorded on the medals table.
This edition is the biggest ever as it allowed participants outside of the continent for the first time, with over 166 male and female athletes from 27 countries competing in ten weight classes.
Bose Omolayo broke her own world record in the women’s 79 kg, lifting a new world record of 145 kg to win a 3rd African Championships title.
Loveline Obiji lifted 145 kg in the women’s over 86kg, to beat her Egyptian counterpart and win the gold medal.
Lucy Ejike won a silver medal in the women’s up to 67 kg.
Onyinyechi Mark is now the world record holder in the -61 kg event. She lifted 143 kg to beat Lucy Ejike’s world record of 142 kg.
Kafila Almaruf won gold in the women’s 73 kg with an African Record of 145 kg.
Folashade Oluwafemiayo won gold in the women’s 86 kg lifting 150 kg.
This development from the Para Powerlifting 2022 African Open Championships would enable the Nigerian athletes to compete in the second stage of qualifiers for the 2024 Paralympics in Paris.
NIGERIA WINS 12 MEDALS AT PARA POWERLIFTING 2022 AFRICAN OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS
Para-Powerlifting involves persons with varying physical disabilities competing in different classifications of the Sport. This is the only World Para Sport organising a Regional Championships in Africa.
This is the third edition which commenced with the 11th African Games held in Brazzaville, Congo in September 2015. Nigeria and Egypt dominated the event in the female and male categories respectively.
The first official World Para Powerlifting African Championships (strictly for only persons from the Continent) held in Algiers in August 2018. Nigeria finished tops with 11 Gold and 2 Silver medals.
This edition is both an African Championship and an Open hosting athletes outside the Continent, the biggest ever. This is historic and first of its kind with over 168 athletes comprising 106 males and 62 females, from 26 Countries competing for honours.
Covid-19 measures were being applied all through the competition.
Nigeria was represented by: Nine females in 41, 45, 50, 61, 67, 79, 86, and +86 kg, while two males competed in the 54 and 65kg in the championships.
