Commonwealth Games: Lawal, Umoafia Increase Team Nigeria’s Medal Haul
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On Day 3 of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, Nigeria clinched two medals with both coming from the Weightlifting event through Rafiatu Folashade Lawal and Edidiong Joseph Umoafia as they won Gold and Bronze, respectively.
Lawal was in impressive form in the Women’s 55kg, showing great intent right from the Snatch category when she set a new Commonwealth Games record of 90kg, lifting it on her first attempt. She was the only weightlifter to lift 90kg in the Snatch and it was a momentum she carried into the Clean & Jerk.
Going into the Clean & Jerk leading with a 4kg advantage, a position that could be overturned. However, Lawal remained optimistic going yet again for another big weight of 110kg. She broke three Commonwealth Games records en route lifting a combined total weight of 206kg to clinch Gold. Jessica Brown won Silver, lifting 197kg.
“I’m so excited and happy because I didn’t really expect what happened today. I wasn’t under any pressure because of the support my English opponent received from the home crowd,” Lawal said.
“I’ve trained very hard and my target coming here was to get the GOLD medal.”
Edidiong Joseph Umoafia
Team Nigeria athlete Edidiong Joseph Umoafia on his part set the tone for the medals’ rush, winning Bronze in the Men’s 67kg Weightlifting event at the Commonwealth Games.
Umoafia was in danger of not making it to the Clean and Jerk, needing three attempts to lift 130kg in the Snatch. That might have set him back, and he tried 160kg twice in the Clean and Jerk.
However, Umoafia consolidated for Bronze as he missed out on Silver by 3kg, then Gold by 10kg.
The Gold and Bronze medals picked up by Team Nigeria on day 3 of the Commonwealth Games follows the triumph of Adijat Adenike Olarinoye, who won Gold in the Women’s 55kg Weightlifting event. Olarinoye also set a new Games’ record of 203kg to win the event.
With more Weightlifting events lined up for Team Nigeria, the medals might continue to come in as there seems to be a resurgence of the sport in the country is on the rise.
Chidi Nwoke/Making of Champions.
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