Nigeria lifters Rita Ferdinand and Esther Oyema won gold medals at the ongoing World Para Powerlifting Championships in Cairo, Egypt, www.aclsports.com reports.
Ferdinand, making her debut on the world stage, delivered a sensational performance to win Nigeria’s first gold medal of the competition on Saturday, October 11, in the women’s up to 79kg category. The newcomer stunned the field by dethroning Paralympic champion and world record holder Miaoyu Han of China. She opened with a confident 142kg lift, improved to 148kg on her second attempt, and sealed victory with a massive 153kg, setting a new African record in the process.
Day Two brought more glory for Nigeria as veteran lifter Esther Oyema made a triumphant return to the global stage, capturing gold in the women’s up to 55kg category. The experienced athlete showcased her trademark strength and composure, lifting 125kg to secure victory.
After her victory, Oyema expressed her joy and determination, saying:
“I feel so excited because coming here was not an easy journey. But thank God, today I’m back, I’m back to dominate again.”
Nigeria’s success extended beyond the gold medals on Saturday. In the women’s 50kg category, Esther Nworgu narrowly missed out on gold to Clara Fuentes Monasterio of Venezuela, settling for silver with a 120kg lift after her final attempt failed. Rukayat Ajiboye added to Nigeria’s medal tally with bronze in the same event, giving the team two spots on the podium.
It has been an impressive start for Nigeria in Cairo, with the World Para Powerlifting Championships running from October 11 to 18. This edition marks the first-ever staging of the event on African soil and also serves as the opening qualifier for the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games.
