Nigeria’s Weightlifters duo of Joy Ogbonne Eze and Edidiong Umofia raked in four more silver and two bronze medals on Tuesday at the ongoing 2023 African Weightlifting Championships that also doubles as the Paris 2024 Olympic qualifier.
In a press release made available by the NWF Media, the country’s representative in the Women’s 71kg, Eze lifted a total of 227kg to settle for three silver medals in the snatch and Clean and jerk. She finished second in the three events behind Egyptian’s Said Neama Said Fahmi who lifted a total 229kg to win the three gold on offer while Ketty Lent of Mauritius finished third with three bronze medals with a combined lift of 197kg.
In the men’s 73kg, Edidiong Umofia grabbed a silver and two bronze medals.
The four Nigeria’s representatives have now won 3 gold, 7 silver and 2 bronze medals in the categories they have taken part in.
Recalled that two Nigeria’s Weightlifters, Rafiatu Lawal and Adijat Adenike Olarinoye who competed in the 59kg women category on Monday won three gold and three silver medals respectively in Snatch, Clean and Jerk and Total. They both lifted 217kg and 211kg in that order to start the medals’ rains for Team Nigeria.
Nigeria’s fifth athlete, Akano Desmond (89kg men) will round off the nation’s participation in the championship tomorrow, Wednesday.
Nigeria weightlifters are hoping to participate in six Championship qualifiers as they seek to return the nation to global weightlifting map in the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France.
The 2023 African Weightlifting Championship which commenced on May 11 will end on Friday.
