Nigeria Weightlifting Federation (NWF) has announced a strong team of 6 weightlifters that will fly the country’s flag at the 2023 International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) Championships in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from September 4th – 17th.
www.aclsports.com gathered that the list is made up 4 female and 2 male weightlifters which comprises Folashade Lawal (59kg), 2022 Commonwealth Games gold medallist, and Adijat Olarinoye (55kg) for the female category.
Also on the list are 2019 African Games gold medallist, Joy Ogbonne (71kg) and multiple national champion, Ruth Ayodele.
The male athletes are the 2022 Commonwealth Games bronze medallist, Edidiong Umofia (73kg), and the 2019 All Africa Games silver medallist, Desmond Akano (89kg).
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Nigeria’s Rafiatu Folashade Lawal set a Games record of 206kg from her snatch and clean and jerk lifts at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in the women’s 59kg weightlifting.
Lawal has already conquered the continent by picking 59kg gold at the 2019 African Games in Morocco and the 2021 African Weightlifting Championships in Tashkent.
The weightlifters would be aiming to garner points ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympics.
The IWF has record entries of 117 countries with 719 lifters made up of 365 men and 354 women.
Folashade Lawal and Adijat Olarinoye both competed in the 59kg women’s category on 7th September by 11.30 am while Edidiong Umofia will compete in the 73kg men’s category on 8th September by noon.
Ruth Ayodele will compete in the 69kg women’s category on the 10th by 2:30 pm, Desmond Akano will compete in the 89kg men’s category on the 10th by 9.30 am while Joy Ogbonne will compete in the 71kg women’s category by 7:3pm on the 10th of September.
