Further medals for Team Nigeria in weightlifting

The 2022 Commonwealth Games Day 3 started for Team Nigeria as Day 2 had ended, with the West African giants picking up medals in weightlifting.

First, weightlifter Edidiong Joseph Umoafia claimed bronze in the men’s 67kg weightlifting category. He lifted a combined 290kg in the snatch and clean & jerk events to finish in third place in the category.

Shortly after Umoafia’s bronze, another Nigerian, Rafiatu Folashade Lawal gave the country its second gold medal in the women’s 59kg category. She broke three Commonwealth Games records to emerge with the gold medal, lifting a total of 206kg in the snatch and clean & jerk events.

In the men’s Middleweight boxing category, Adeyinka Benson defeated Ghanaian Abubakri Kwesi Quartey 3-2 in their Round of 16 encounter to qualify for the quarterfinals of the event.

In the men’s table tennis team event, Aruna Quadri was the saviour for Team Nigeria as they secured a hard-fought 3-2 win over their Malaysian counterparts to qualify for the semifinals of the event at the Commonwealth Games Day 3.

First, the Malaysian duo of Javen Choong and Qi Shen defeated Bode Abiodun and Olajide Omotayo in the doubles event 3-1 (6-11; 12-10; 12-10; 11-7). Quadri quickly brought the side back level with a 3-1 (11-9; 6-11; 11-5; 11-5) win over Chee Feng Leong before Qi Shen Wong defeated Bode Abiodun 3-0 (12-10; 14-12; 11-5). Omotayo defeated Chee Feng Leong in the fourth game 3-1 (11-8; 9-11; 11-7; 11-6), and Quadri finished the job with a 3-1 (7-11; 11-8; 11-5; 11-9) win over Javen Choong to complete a 3-2 win for Team Nigeria who will now face India in the semis.