Nigeria wins 11 medals at Powerlifting Championships in Kazakhstan

Lagos – Nigerian male and female powerlifters won 11 medals and broke three world records at the just-concluded Powerlifting World Open Asian Championships in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

The Almaty 2015 IPC Powerlifting Asian Open championships, which began on July 26, ended on July 30.

Feyisetan Are, the coach of the Nigeria Powerlifting Federation (NPF) disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) via an online message on Thursday from Kazakhstan.

He said that the medals comprised of seven gold and four silver.

The coach said that the female powerlifters were the biggest winners in the competition, raking in five gold medals and three silver medals.

“Omolayo Bose is the biggest winner at the championships, after breaking the senior world record in the 79kg female category.

“Ben Nsini won a gold medal in the 41kg junior category and a silver medal in the senior category, breaking the junior 41kg world record.

“On the other hand, Precious Orji won gold at the 86kg event, also breaking the world record in the 86kg category,’’ Are said.

He added that Nwakanma Blessing took gold in the 86kg, while Oyema Esther and Nwosu Ndidi won silver medals in the 55kg and the 123kg events, respectively.

The championship featured more than 220 athletes from 32 countries.

On the male powerlifters, the coach said that they won two gold medals and a silver medal.

“Ezurike Roland won gold in the 54kg category, Kehinde Paul also won gold in the 65kg category and Yakubu Adesokan won silver in the 49kg category,’’ he said.

Are also said that the Nigerian team is scheduled to depart Almaty on July 31, to arrive the country on Aug. 1.

China had 16 medals and are at the number one position of the medal table, while Nigeria came second with 11 medals.