Sunday 11 September 2016

Paralympics: Oyema increases Nigeria’s medal haul


Esther Oyema gave Nigeria its third medal of the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio on Saturday by winning a silver medal in the power-lifting competition.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Oyema won the medal in the women’s -55kg event of the competition after finishing second in the event.

She won with a lift of 127kg in the nine-athlete event.

Her first attempt at 127kg was a failed one, but she got it right in her second attempt, while her third attempt which was at 130 kg was also unsuccessful.

Amalia Perez of Mexico was however successful as her 130kg lift earned her the gold medal, as well as new Paralympic and world records in the event.

Xiao Cuijuan of China finished third with a lift of 115 kg to win the bronze medal.

NAN reports that Nigeria had on Friday through Roland Ezuruike and Latifat Tijani won gold and silver medals respectively in power-lifting.

Ezuruike won gold in the men’s 54kg to set new Games record in power-lifting, while Tijani won silver in the women’s 45kg event.

TIjani narrowly lost the gold medal to China’s Dandan Hu who set a new world record and personal record of 107kg compared to Tijani’s 106.0kg.

The Paralympics will end on Sept. 18.

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