By Leshi Adebayo
Latifat Tijani, on Thursday, won Nigeria’s first gold medal at the ongoing Tokyo Paralympic Games.
Tijani, a gold medalist at the Brazzaville 2015 Africa Games and a silver medalist at the Rio 2016 Paralympics, competed in the women’s 45kg powerlifting and won gold. She beat China’s Zhe Cui to lift 107kg.
A tweet from a handle named, ‘Making of Champions’ tells more about the feat.
“Tijani attempts to a set a new Paralympics record on her 4th attempt trying to lift 117kg but failed to do so. Her best lift of 107kg is a little short of the P.R of 108kg set by China’s Dandan Hu in 2016. Good job, Latifat,” it reads.
Another post from a Twitter handle named, ‘#Parapowerlifting#Tokyo2020 reads, “We had an incredible time watching the women’s up to 45kg! #Pol_ back at the podium, #CHN_ ‘s second medal of the day and Nigeria….just speechless. She made us cry. Time to celebrate, girls.
The positions In the Category goes thus:
1. Latifat Tijani #NGR-107kg
2. Zhe Cui #CHN-102kg
3. Justina KOZDYRK #POL- 101kg.”
