Paralympics: Nigeria top Africa with four gold

Oyema

In five days of the ongoing 2012 London Paralympic Games, six African countries led by Nigeria have now made it to the medals table, winning a total of 27 medals.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Nigeria continued to lead Africa via the powerlifing,  so far winning four gold and three silver, medals.

Nigeria is followed by South Africa with two gold and four bronze medals, Tunisia, a gold and two silver, Egypt, also a gold and two bronze, Morocco, a gold and Algeria with a silver and five bronze medals.

NAN reports that this is in contrast to Africa’s performance at the just-concluded Olympic Games, where they finished with 24 medals.

Nigeria’s gold rush was shored up with impressive lifts by Esther Oyema and Joy Onaolapo, who  both broke the world records en-route to gold as Nigeris dominated  the powerlifting.

Oyema was first up at the ExCeL, venue of women’s -48kg and matched the world record set by compatriot Lucy Ejike with an opening lift of 130kg.

The 30-year-old Oyema broke that with her second attempt of 132kg and then extended it to 135kg, although she did miss out on a fourth attempt at 140kg.

“The people of Nigeria will feel so happy,’’ said Oyema, who finished ahead of Russian world champion Olesya Lafina and China's Shi Shanshan.

“For the Paralympians to bring medals back to our country, they will feel very happy. I feel very, very good. I decided to be a world recorder and to be a champion. I never doubted it.

“There are more records to come. I will keep going, by the grace of God,’’ Oyema said.

Sapele-born Onaolapo dominated proceedings in his event and after breaking the category's Paralympics record with a second lift of 130kg, she successfully completed 131kg to break the world record.

“We are doing well because we have determination, discipline and focus,” she said of Nigeria's success.

“We take it very seriously. It is our job. We don't get paid, but we treat it as our job and take it very seriously,’’ Onalapo said.

NAN, however, reports that Nigeria’s Ifeanyi Nnajiofor took silver in the men's -60kg category with a lift of 188kg. (NAN)