By Uzor Maxim Uzoatu
The ever winning President of Para Powerlifting Federation of Nigeria, Chiemeka Charles Ezenwanne, on Tuesday, August 13, left Nigeria with 9 elite powerlifters for an international campaign in Germany in preparation for the Paralympic (Para Olympics).
The athletes of the Para Powerlifting Federation had been in camp for the past two months.
The athletes that left for Germany to win global laurels for Nigeria are: Esther Nworgu (41kg); Bejide Bose (50kg); Kafilat Almaruf (73kg); Bose Omolayo (79kg); Lucy Ejike (67kg); Onyinyechi Gift (61kg); Kure Thomas (65kg); Lovelin Obiji (86kg); and Folashade Alice (86+kg).
The athletes are under the superintendence of coaches Patience Igbiti and Jude Ihuarulam
Nigeria’s Sports Minister John Enoh has charged President Chiemeka Charles Ezenwanne of the Para Powerlifting Federation to ensure that he continues in his winning ways of always netting more laurels for Nigeria.
It needs to be recalled that Nigeria won 4 Gold medals in two days at the 2024 Para Powerlifting World Cup in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, back in March.
The gold winning for the Nigerian para-powerlifters began on March 20 when they won two Gold medals.
The Nigerian para-athletes added two more to make it four golds in two days.
Nigeria won her first gold at the tournament in the -50kg category through Bose Bejide.
Esther Nworgu, who had won silver at the 2023 Para Powerlifting World Cup in Dubai, lifted the second Gold for Nigeria in the -41kg category.
After the Nigerian women’s para-athletes’ domination, the men’s team continued apace on March 21.
Thomas Kure won the third Gold medal in the male -65kg weight class.
Roland Ezuruike bagged the fourth Gold medal in the -54kg category.
President Chiemeka Charles Ezenwanne has promised Sports Minister John Enoh that Esther Nworgu (41kg); Bejide Bose (50kg); Kafilat Almaruf (73kg); Bose Omolayo (79kg); Lucy Ejike (67kg); Onyinyechi Gift (61kg); Kure Thomas (65kg); Lovelin Obiji (86kg); and Folashade Alice (86+kg) would repeat the winning feats in Germany.