Nigerian duo of Olaitan Ibrahim and Ndidi Nwosu won silver and bronze medal respectively at the ongoing World Para Powerlifting Championships in Mexico.
Olaitan who made her first international debut shook the world in the women’s up to 67kg, settling for a silver medal on the day 5 event on Thursday. Olaitan lifted 110 kg, while Rio 2016 gold medalist and defending champion, Tan Yujiao lifted 135kg winning a gold medal to maintain her dominance in the weight category.
Egypt’s Gihan ABDELAZIZ won bronze medal after raising 105 kg. Rio silver medalist, Raushan Koishibayeva of Kazakhstan could not make it to the podium after she managed sixth at the last edition of the Worlds in 2014.
Rio 2016 champion, Ndidi Nwosu faced stiff oppositions in the women’s up to 73kg settling for a bronze medal.
Rio silver medalist, Souhad Ghazoyuani of France gave a good account of herself a year later to set a new World Record by lifting 145 kg in Mexico. China’s Miaoyu Han came second with a lift of 121 kg while Ndidi Nwosu of Nigeria raised 120 kg to finish in third position.
The coach of the Para Powerlifting team, Patience Igbiti who dropped a message for aclsports.com showered praise on the medallists. “I’m proud of the girls anytime any day because they’ll definitely deliver”, she said.
With some male lifters still to come she is very confident of more medals.
“The jokers are still in our pocket. Two of our male lifters who are currently unbeaten have not competed. I’m optimistic Nigeria will win gold medals”, she ended.
Nigeria is with two gold, one silver and two bronze medals at the ongoing World Para Powerlifting Championships in Mexico City.
