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By: Peter Akinbo
Nine Nigerian para powerlifters have secured their places for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games in France after they all won medals at the ongoing Para Powerlifting World Cup in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The lifters won seven gold, one silver and one bronze medals to exert their dominance on the world stage at the competition, which began on Wednesday, March 20 and ended on Monday, March 25.
Two gold medals were won on Wednesday and on Thursday, two other para-athletes doubled the tally while on Saturday, three more gold medals were added to the pile. No gold medals were won after that, with Lucy Ejike and Lovelyn Obiji adding one silver and one bronze respectively.
All nine medallists qualified for the Paralympic Games in Paris, France later this year.
Bose Bejide won Nigeria’s first gold on the opening day of the competition on Wednesday as she emerged victorious in the women’s -50kg category.
Esther Nworgu claimed gold in the women’s -41kg category amid stiff competition. It is an upgrade to the silver Nworgu won at the Dubai 2023 World Cup.
In the men’s category on Thursday, Thomas Kure dominated the competition in the -65kg weight class winning Nigeria’s third gold, while Roland Ezuruike secure the country’s fourth gold in the -54kg category.
Gift Mark then continued the gold rain on Saturday claiming hers gold in the women’s -61kg weight class.
Paralympic medallists Bose Omolayo and captain Folashade Oluwafemiayo both proved their mettle against the opposition by winning gold medals in the women’s -79kg and -86kg weight classes respectively.
Ejike and Obiji both secured their medals on the final day of the event in the women’s -67kg and -82.5kg categories respectively.
Team captain Folashade Oluwafemiayo expressed pride in the team.
“As the captain of the team, I am very proud of all of us (lifters) because this is what we worked for and we are reaping the rewards now.”