World Record holder in the men’s under-65kg, Paul Kehinde is among the six athletes that will represent the country at next month’s Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia.
Kehinde at the 9th Fazza 2018 World Para Powerlifting World Cup in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, broke his record set at the World Championships in Mexico, last November.
The Technical Director, Nigeria Para-Powerlifting (NPPC), Coach Are Feyisetan told aclsports.com listed Ezuruike Roland (54kg), Ibrahim Abdulazeez (72kg), while the females are Ejike Lucy (61kg), Oyema Esther (55kg) and Nwosu Ndidi (73kg).
Coach Feyisetan disclosed that the Ejike Lucy will be in camp of the team to the Games in Gold Coast.
He said, “The Dubai tournament were Nigeria won four gold medal through Folashade Alice Oluwafemiayo, Paul Kehinde, Ezuruike Obumuneke and Esther Oyema was a test run for the commonwealth Games. The nation should expect something similar from the lifters”.
“Don’t forget in a hurry that Esther Oyema and Roland Ezuruike emerged champions of their respective weight categories at the World Cup in Dubai too while Ejike Lucy won a gold at the World Cup in Mexico last year”.
“The athletes have been in camp since January 2nd 2018 and have been training ever since for the event. Ejike Lucy is the Athletes’ Representative of the lifters and that means she automatically becomes the captain of the lifters”, Coach Feyisetan.
Abulude said that the selection of the athletes was based on their current form and performance in camp.
Team Nigeria won Four Gold medals from Paul Kehinde, Abdulazeez, Esther Oyema, Loveline Obiji and two silver from Rolland Ezuruike and Bose Omolayo in para-powerlifing event at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.
