The gold medals came in Para powerlifting from the quartet of Loveline Obiji, Esther Onyema, Paul Kehinde and Abdulazeez Ibrahim. Onyema lifted a weight of 136.0kg to set the new world record in the lightweight, while Obiji lifted 122.4kg to set the new world record in the heavyweight class.
In what was clearly Nigeria’s day, Roland Ezurike won a silver in the men’s 50kg category while Bose Omolayo grabbed another silver in the women’s 84 kg class.
Courtesy of yesterday’s golden feat in powerlifting Nigeria was having in her kitty a total of 10 gold medals, two short of South Africa’s 12. Team Nigeria was as at last night placed 8th on the medals table with a total of 10 gold, 8 silver and 14 bronze. South Africa was placed 7th on the medals log with 12 gold 10 silver and 16 bronze.
Meanwhile, former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon has applauded the splendid performance of Team Nigeria at the XX 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow describing them as the ‘Pride of the Nation’.
General Gowon who could not hide his admiration of the athletes performances said that Nigerians should rise and salute Team Nigeria for their spectacular performance at the Games.
‘’Certainly, I’m impressed and over-joyed with the performance of Team Nigeria at the Games’’, General Gowon said at his plush Blythswood Hotel in Glasgow. ‘’In a multi sports event like this with 71 countries participating, it is a thing of joy to see your country’s contingent doing well and also hearing your national anthem playing and your flag flying high. They have done well and deserve an applause from us all’’, the overwhelmed General who is still as strong as a fiddle said.