By Victor Kanayo
Team Nigeria had a good outing on Day seven at the ongoing Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, despite initial disqualification of its two powerlifting athletes – Onyinyechi Gift Mark and Latifat Tijani from competing on Thursday August 5, 2022.
Later on the same day, Nigerian athletes competing mainly in para-athletics and powerlifting hauled five medals -comprising two gold, two silver and one bronze.
Nwachukwu Chiemerie kickstarted the gold performances when she broke a new record that earned her a Gold medal in Discus.
As the games continued, Folashade Oluwafemiayo and Bose Omolayo completely dominated the field, breaking this year’s Commonwealth Games with every lift.
Oluwafemiayo particularly broke another World Record with her last lift, thus clinching the second gold for Nigeria, while Bose Omolayo rounded it off with a Silver.
Team Nigeria further recorded another feat with Obichukwu Ikechukwu winning a Silver medal in the men’s heavyweight category while Nnamdi Innocent’s lift of 132.5kg in the Men’s lightweight won a bronze medal for the country.
Dollar Rain
Thereafter, the Federal Government through the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development rewarded athletes who have so far won medals at the mundial with $25,000.
In a ceremony held at the Hilton Garden in Birmingham, the athletes and their coaches were rewarded for bringing glory to their fatherland.
Gold medal winners – Adijat Adenike Olarinoye and Rafiatu Folashade Lawal, received $5,000 each, while their coaches were also given $3,000 each.
Folashade won gold in the women’s 59kg weightlifting event while Adenike won gold in the women’s 55kg weightlifting event.
Taiwo Laidi, a silver medalist in the women’s 76kg Weightlifting event, received $3,000 for her effort.
For bronze medal winners, Edidiong Joseph Umaofia, Islamiyat Yusuf and Mary Osijo, they all got $2,000 each for their effort.
Gold medalist in the 59kg Women’s Weightlifting event, Folashade Lawal, said, “I am pleased we got rewarded even before the end of the competition, I thank the honourable Minister for Sports, Sunday Dare for his proactiveness in this regard.
“It is quite timely for us, as this act will encourage and spur all athletes to do more. For me, I want to thank the Minster for this and I’m very excited.”
