Umoafia wins three w’lifting gold

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By Abiodun Adewale

Team Nigeria’s swoop of gold medals at the ongoing African Games in Ghana continued on Day 4, Monday, with former junior Olympic champions Edidiong Umoafia adding three more golds in the weightlifting event.

Competing in the 67kg, Umoafia was firm and his grip saw him as the overall best, lifting 135kg snatch and 165kg clean and jerk for a total of 300kg.

The 22-year-old has been an emerging talent for Nigeria in weightlifting, as he also won the first medal for the country at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

Umoafia’s haul takes the country’s tally to 10 golds, after the country’s six on Sunday.

Badminton player Anuoluwapo Opeyori won the country’s first gold after defeating compatriot Godwin Olofua in the men’s singles final.

Nigeria’s female wrestlers took the number to seven on Sunday after a clean sweep of the female wrestling event.