By Sulaimon Jamiu
25-year-old Nigerian weightlifter, Folashade Rafiatu Lawal has won the country’s second gold medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, and set a record in the clean and jerk category.
Lawal, who on Sunday won a gold medal in the women’s 59kg weightlifting event, lifted 206kg in total, breaking the Commonwealth record for accumulated lifts; lifting 110kg, 115kg, and 116kg in all three attempts.
She also broke the Commonwealth record in the snatch with her first lift of 90kg.
Her gold medal is Nigeria’s third medal at the games, following Adijat Olarinoye and Umoafia Joseph, who finished first and third in their weightlifting categories, respectively.
Olarinoye set a new record of 203kg to win gold in the women’s 55kg weightlifting event, beating India’s Bindyarani Sorokhaibam and England’s Fraer Morrow to the prestigious prize.
In a related development, Adeyinka Benson of Team Nigeria qualified for the quarter-finals of the 71-75kg boxing category from the third round, as he defeated Ghana’s Abubakar Kumasi 3-2.
