Nigeria took their medals haul to eight at the African Powerlifting Open Championships in Cairo, Egypt yesterday with additional gold and silver in men’s and women’s events.
The country had won two gold medals on the opening day on Thursday and earlier yesterday through Roland Ezuruike and Esther Nworgu.
Later yesterday, Kafila Almaruf added another gold medal and set a new African record in the women’s up to 73kg category.
She lifted 148kg to emerge as the champion, with Safaa Hassan of Egypt finishing second and Libya’s Sahar El-Gnemi of Libya in the bronze position.
Commonwealth Games champion Folashade Oluwafemiayo was also in on the gold rush, winning her second African Open title in the women’s up to 86kg category.
She lifted 150kg to claim gold, ahead of Randa Mahmoud and Rania Ali Morshedi, both of Egypt.
Latifat Tijani kept the winning going for Nigeria with an African record lift of 113kg to win the women’s up to 45kg category also yesterday.
There was also silver for Nigeria in the men’s event.
Thomas Kure finished second behind Algerian world champion Hocine Bettir, while Hossam Elgefary of Egypt clinched bronze.
Nigeria and hosts Egypt are the most successful countries at the championships so far, each winning five gold medals.
The competition continues today and tomorrow with Team Nigeria hunting for more medals.
