Team Nigeria picks up one gold and one silver in ongoing Rio Paralympic games

TEAM Nigeria has won two medals at the ongoing Rio Paralympics with Roland Ezuruike clinching gold in the men's 54kg event and Latifat Tijani picking up silver in the women's 45kg event.

 

In what has been a great start for the squad, it has overcome many of its recent funding problems to establish itself as one of the teams to look out for at the tournament. Mr Ezuruike set a personal record of lifting 200kg in his event, beating China's Jian Wang and Greece's Dimitros Bakochristos, who won silver and bronze respectively.

 

Ms Tijani, who entered her competition at 101kg, while other competitors attempted below 100kg, made a bright start, lifting101kg to smash the earlier existing Paralympics record. However, that was short-lived as China’s Dandan Hu set a new one of 102kg.

 

After that a keen contest ensued between Tijani and Hu but it was the Chinese that had the last laugh winning gold in style setting a new world and Paralympics record with 108.0kg to finish tops.  Tijani lifted 106kg to come second, while Great Britain’s Zoe Newson finished behind Tijani to win bronze.

 

Nigeria currently sits 20th in the medals table and is hopeful of making further progress as the Paralympics progress. Traditionally, Nigeria has always done well in Paralympics games compared with the Olympics.