The duo of Lucy Ejike and Ibrahim Olaitan gave Team Nigeria a lot to cheer on Saturday when they both clinched Bronze medals in the Powerlifting event at the ongoing Tokyo 2020 Paralympics in Japan.
Ejike, who is the captain of Team Nigeria, had only one legal lift which was her first as her subsequent lifts were disqualified. Her enthusiasm ensured a first lift of 130kg edged out most of her opponents. However, her second and third attempts to lift 135kg failed/
Amalia Perez of Mexico, who lifted 131kg in her final attempt, won Gold in the event. She improved on the 125kg and 126kg recorded in her first and second attempts respectively. Kuziena Ruza of Uzbekistan took the silver with her final lift of 130kg after failing to lift 126kg in her first and second attempt.
Ibrahim Olaitan
Team Nigeria’s representative in the 67kg Powerlifting category, Ibrahim Olaitan, won a Bronze medal in the event
The Bronze medals by Ejike and Olaitan have increased Nigeria’s medal haul at the Paralympic Games to three, a Gold and two Bronze medals.
Earlier in the day, Team Nigeria’s entry in the -71kg class, Innocent Nnamdi, also failed to record any score having failed to lift the 200kg he booked in all three attempts.
Reigning world and Paralympic champion, Guskon Bonnie Bunyau of Malaysia retained his title with a final 228kg lift while Egypt’s Atria Mohammed had silver with 191kg in his final attempt. Yule Micky of Great Britain who started with 180kg and finished with 182kg won the Bronze medal in the event.
