Team Nigeria Wednesday secured its second medal in power lifting at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris, with Esther Nworgu earning a silver medal in the women’s 41 kg category.
Nworgu’s remarkable performance saw her lift an impressive 118 kg, narrowly missing out on the gold which was claimed by China’s Zhe Cui. Cui, who set a new Paralympic Games record with a lift of 119 kg, edged out Nworgu to clinch the top spot. The Chinese athlete, who had previously won silver at the Olympics, maintained her lead throughout the competition.
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“I had an injury two days ago and the doctors confirmed that I should not compete because it was critical. There is no adjective I can use to quantify my happiness right now. It is like heaven to me,” Nworgu said.
Nworgu began strongly, lifting 106 kg and placing second behind Cui, who started with 108kg. She continued to impress with a 112 kg lift in her second attempt, while Cui extended her lead with a 113 kg lift. In the final round, Nworgu achieved her best lift of 118kg, securing the silver medal. Brazil’s Lara de Lima finished third with a lift of 109 kg, taking home the bronze medal.
Recall that Mariam Bolaji etched her name in the history books by securing Team Nigeria’s first medal at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
Competing in the Women’s Singles SL3 Para Badminton event, Bolaji triumphed over Ukraine’s Oksana Kozyna in a dominant performance, winning 21-9, 21-9 in the bronze medal match.
Team Nigeria is showcasing its talents across four sports at the Games—Para athletics, Para badminton, Para powerlifting, and Para table tennis with a total of 24 athletes proudly representing the nation. The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, which commenced on August 28, will end on September 8.
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