Team Nigeria’s Ndidi Winifred claimed silver in the women’s 58kg weightlifting event as Yinka Ayenuwa claimed the country’s first men’s individual event medal, all on Day 3 of the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
The Asaba-born athlete, 25, looked to have built an early momentum in the snatch phase after seemingly successfully lifting at 95kg, which unfortunately was deemed a no-lift, but finished another 116kg effort in the clean and jerk to complete a total 206kg lift.
England’s Zoe Smith,20, won the event’s gold as well as setting a Games Record of 210kg total lift.
Two-time champion and Wales’ Michaela Breeze, who came out of retirement for the Glasgow games, won bronze with her total 202k lift.
Despite being denied the lead halfway into the contest having being adjudged a no-lift twice, Ndidi mounted pressure on the Londoner and was unfortunately denied the third time her second clean and jerk attempt of 115 which should have left her just 2kg adrift of Smith.
Moreover it was Team England’s smith who mustered strength to finish with a flourish with a Games Record 118kg lift to clinch gold.
Breeze, 35, offered less in her third attempt at 113kg- enough to have had her finish runners-up- only for Winifred to leapfrog her after lifting 116kg to clinch silver.
Later on Saturday, Ayenuwa was elated to have won team Nigeria’s fourth medal of the championships, as his final attempt at 171kg in the men’s 69kg Group A weightlifting class hauled him into runners-up position.
Ayenuwa, 28, clinched Nigeria’s second silver medal of the day after lifting a total of 301kg.
Malaysia’s Mohd Hafifi Mansor claimed gold with a total of 305kg. Indian Omkar Otari won bronze having lifted 297kg.
Team Nigeria have won four medals (1 gold, 2 silvers and a bronze) in the third day of the Commonwealth games and sit eleventh on the medal standings (as at time of report).
