Ikechukwu Obichukwu’s silver-medal performance in the men’s heavyweight powerlifting competition on Thursday night at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games was the cherry on top of a fantastic day for Team Nigeria.
Obichukwu lifted 190 kg to place second behind India’s Sudhir, with Scotland’s Micky Yule winning bronze. With the addition of Obichukwu’s medal, Team Nigeria now has four medals from three Powerlifting competitions.
Folashade Oluwafemiayo, who smashed her own World Record lifting 155 kg to take gold, was the star of Thursday’s powerlifting competition.
Following the victories of Elizabeth Oshoba and Cynthia Ogunsemilore in their quarterfinal bouts on Thursday, Team Nigeria is assured of winning two more medals in the boxing event.
Oshoba competed in the women’s 54–57 kg featherweight division, whereas Ogunsemilore competed in the over 57–60 kg lightweight division.
At the Commonwealth Games on Thursday, India’s Sudhir won the gold medal in the men’s heavyweight para powerlifting competition.
Sudhir, an Asian Para Games bronze winner, lifted 208 kg in his first attempt. However, on his second effort, he lifted 212 kg to score 134.5 points and shatter the Games record.
The 27-year-old Sudhir, who has a disability connected to polio, thereby kicked off India’s medal total in the para sports category at the CWG.
Sudhir, who started powerlifting in Sonipat in 2013, has also qualified for the Asian Para Games, which will now be held in Hangzhou in 2022.
Conclusion
Ikechukwu Christian Obichukwu won the silver medal with 133.6 points, beating Micky Yule for third place with 130.9. In the men’s up to 88 kg division of the World Para Powerlifting Asia-Oceania Open Championship, which was held in South Korea in June, Sudhir won the bronze medal with a best lift of 214 kg.
