Commonwealth Games: Nigeria’s Folashade Breaks Powerlifting World Record, Clinches Gold
Paralympic champion Folashade Oluwafemiayo broke the world and Games record with 123.4 points on her way to clinching women’s heavyweight gold as Nigeria celebrated a one-two finish themselves.
The 37-year-old lifted 155kg on her way to victory with compatriot Bose Omolayo finishing 8.2 points further back to secure silver as Australia’s Hani Watson took bronze.
She was pleased to achieve the gold medal she had expected to take home, saying: “Everything was good for me here.
“We came early to acclimatize and train [she arrived on 22 July]. The weather has been good, Birmingham has been good and it all went well.
“I did not just expect to win, I expected a gold medal and a world record and I got them. I am so happy.”
In the men’s heavyweight powerlifting category, Ikechukwu Christian Obichukwu secured silver for Nigeria behind India’s Sudhir who lifted 212kg to seal a narrow 0.9-point victory over his Nigeria counterpart. Scotland’s Micky Yule took the bronze.
In the other male category, Nnamdi Innocent also won a bronze medal for Team Nigeria.
Innocent earned a total point of 132.5 in the final of the Men’s Lightweight after his three attempts.
Malaysia’s Bonnie Gustin claimed the gold medal after finishing first with a total of 154.6 points, a new Commonwealth Games record, while Mark Swan from England finished in the second position with 145.5 points.
Nigeria’s Thomas Kure finished in the fourth position, the same number of points as his fellow countryman.
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Meanwhile, Team Nigeria’s women’s medal hopefuls Latifat Tijani and Onyinyechi Mark were both disqualified from the women’s Women’s Lightweight final event.
Rafiat Lawal had claimed a gold medal in weightlifting for Team Nigeria earlier in the games.
