Nigeria female weightlifter, Rafiatu Lawal has booked a ticket to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in France. Lawal lifted a combined total lift of 227kg, with a snatch of 101kg as well as 126kg in Clean and Jerk.
Lawal, with these lifts, set a new African Record in the women’s 59kg weightlifting event at the ongoing 2024 IWF World Cup in Thailand which serves as an Olympic Qualifiers.
The Commonwealth Games Champion told www.aclsports.com that adequate funding and training tours will help her perform better during the Olympics.
The African Champion revealed that she wants to be one of the most successful weightlifters to have come out of Africa.
She said, “I am super excited to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games; I have never felt this happy in my life since I started competing. It is also a thing of joy to set another African Record enroute to the Olympic Games.
“The most important thing at the moment is proper funding. I’ll need to attend some training tours before the Olympic Games in order to hit form and this can only be possible through adequate funds.
“My motivating factor is from my childhood. I have always had it in mind that I want to become one of the most successful sports personalities in Africa when I grow up. I am happy the coast is becoming clearer”.
She applauded Governor Seyi Makinde for his constant support while calling on the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu to give maximum attention to medal producing sports.
The African Games triple gold medallist said, “I want to thank the Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde for his efforts in transforming sports in the state. He has focused on other sports and is trying his best to give us a sense of belonging.
“We need more recognition and support from the Nigerian Government. President Bola Tinubu needs to give 100% attention to other sports, which always dominate medals when it comes to competition time”.
Lawal applauded the relentless spirit of the President of Nigeria Weightlifting Federation, Dr Ibrahim Abdul for ensuring she attends the Olympic Qualifiers in Thailand.
She said, “My message to the weightlifting family: I appreciate everyone that supports me in one way or another, especially the President of Nigeria Weightlifting Federation, Dr Ibrahim Abdul.
“At the beginning of the Olympic qualification, he said he will try all his possible best to make sure weightlifting qualifies for the Paris Olympic Games because we did not feature at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. In most cases, the President funds our various International Championships with the support of other board members. I want to thank them all for ensuring my dream becomes a reality”.
Nigeria’s Rafiatu 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, the 2021 African Weightlifting Championships in Tashkent and 2023 African Games in Ghana.
