In Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, Nine Nigerian para powerlifters have obtained their places for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games in France after they all won medals at the ongoing Para Powerlifting World Cup.
Following the competition which began on Wednesday, March 20 and ended on Monday, March 25, the lifters won seven gold, one silver and one bronze medals to maintain their dominance on the world stage.
On Wednesday and on Thursday two gold medals were won, two other para-athletes doubled the total on Saturday, three more gold medals were added to the gallery.
No gold medals were won after that, alongside Lucy Ejike and Lovelyn Obiji adding one silver and one bronze individually.
All the nine winners were qualified for the Paralympic Games in Paris, France later this year.
On Wednesday, Bose Bejide won Nigeria’s first gold on the opening day of the competition, as she appeared victorious before the women’s -50kg category.
Esther Nworgu claimed gold in the women’s -41kg category amongst the stiff competition. It is an upgrade to the silver Nworgu won at the Dubai 2023 World Cup.
Bose Omolayo and captain Folashade Oluwafemiayo the Paralympic medallists proved their courage against the opposition by winning gold medals in the women’s -79kg and -86kg weight classes respectively.
While, Ejike and Obiji both obtained their medals on the final day of the event in the women’s -67kg and -82.5kg categories respectively.
Captain Folashade Oluwafemiayo expressed pride in her team.
“As the captain of the team, I am very proud of all of us (lifters) because this is what we worked for and we are reaping the rewards now.”
