Nigeria win all four powerlifting golds at Glasgow 2014
Two world champions add Commonwealth gold to their collections as India, Malaysia, Kenya and England also make the podium. 04 Aug 2014
Nigeria's Bose Omolayo and Loveline Obiji celebrate with Kenya's Joyce Wambui Njuguna on the podium of the women's heavyweight at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.
Abdulazeez Ibrahim highlighted the win of four gold medals for the African country, picking up a Commonwealth title months after winning the men’s up to 97kg at the 2014 IPC Powerlifting World Championships in Dubai, UAE.
The para-sport action at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games concluded on Saturday (2 August), with a clean sweep of powerlifting wins for Nigeria.
Abdulazeez Ibrahim highlighted the win of four gold medals for the African country, picking up a Commonwealth title months after winning the men’s up to 97kg at the 2014 IPC Powerlifting World Championships in Dubai, UAE.
In Glasgow, the normal weight classes were merged into lightweight and heavyweight and a calculation used to determine a combined weight for each athlete after all lifts were completed.
Ibrahim lifted 197kg whilst India’s Rajinder Rahelu (180.5kg) won silver. Malaysian Jong Yee Khie (178kg) completed the men’s heavyweight podium.
Two Nigerians made the top three in the men’s lightweight. Paul Kehinde (221kg) and Rolland Ezuruike (220.2kg) ensured a one-two at the Clyde Auditorium.
England’s Ali Jawad (209.4kg) put in a stunning performance to seal bronze, twice lifting more than his men’s up to 59kg world record from Dubai.
Taking to Twitter after the competition Jawad said “Two new world records and the performance of my life yesterday […] the crowd were electric. Thank you Scotland!”
Loveline Obiji came back from Worlds disappointment to win gold in the women’s heavyweight with a combined lift of 122kg. The Dubai silver medallist lost out on the coveted world title by just 1kg back in April but in Glasgow added a clean lift of 144kg - 2kg more than her recent competition best.
Her teammate Bose Omolayo (113.4kg) joined her on the podium in silver, whilst Kenya’s Joyce Wambui Njugana (68.6kg) was third.
Esther Oyema was the next Nigerian world champion to collect gold with a 136kg combined haul in the women’s lightweight. England’s Natalie Blake (100.2kg) finished in second with a best lift just over 7kg more than her Dubai 2014 performance. Sakina Khatun (88.2kg) finished with a bronze for India.
The para-sport competitions at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games have now finished and the Closing Ceremony will take place on Sunday (3 August) evening.
Headlined by Kylie Minogue, the ceremony will also feature a performance and song by 2,000 volunteers.
