Team Nigeria has created three World Records and two African Records after winning a total of twelve medals at the African Open Championships that ended in Cairo, Egypt on Sunday.
Nigeria won nine gold and three medals through Roland Ezuruike, Esther Nworgu, Latifat Tijani, Kafila Almaruf, Folashade Oluwafemiayo, Onyinyechi Gift Mark, Loveline Obiji and Bose Omolayo in various categories.
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Bose Bejide, Lucy Ejike and Thomas Kure won the three silver medals however, the gold medal won at the Teams Event was not recorded on the medals table.
Reacting to Nigeria’s performance, Nigeria’s Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare commended Nigeria’s para powerlifters for their impressive outing.
The minister said, “The performance of our contingent underlines the country’s status as a leading force in para powerlifting and our strong winning culture and competitive mentality.
“We must not take things for granted or rest on our oars because other countries are beginning to focus more on this sport so as to knock us off our stride.
“We must keep improving and never stop developing new strategies that will keep us at this level of dominance and even go higher as the sport evolves and new rules and techniques are developed,” the minister advised.
This edition of the African Open Championships is the biggest ever as it allowed participants outside of the continent for the first time.
Over 166 athletes (104 male, 62 female)from 27 countries competed in ten weight classes at the Championships.
