NIGERIAN WINS GOLD AT RIO PARALYMPIC GAMES

Team Nigeria, yesterday, put up an impressive run at the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games, as Rolland Ezuruike set a new Paralympic record of 190kg to win gold in the men’s 54kg category of weight-lifting, even as Latifat Tijani won silver in women’s 45kg.

His first lift of 185kg broke the previous Paralympic record before he extended it with his second lift of 190kg.

With this feat, Ezuruike has taken over the leadership in the 54kg category left vacant by former champion, Egypt’s Sherif Osman.

With his 189kg lift at the World Championship in 2014, which was his major international debut,  Ezuruike placed himself at the top of the rankings for the on going Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.

Ezuruike went on to win gold at the 2015 IPC Powerlifting Asian Open Championships, cementing his place amongst the world’s best.

In the same vein, Tijani, a power lifter, has won Nigeria a silver medal.

Tijani competed in the women’s 45 kg power lifting event, and performed great, but China’s Dandan Hu beat her to first place.

It was an intense competition between the duo that eventually saw Hu winning the game.
Zoe Newson of Britain came third.