Oluwafemiayo powers Nigeria to gold in Riyadh

Para powerlifting icon Folashade Oluwafemiayo powered her way to a commanding gold medal in the women’s heavyweight event at the 6th Solidarity Games in Riyadh, Saturday PUNCH reports.

Oluwafemiayo, already one of the most feared and respected names in world para powerlifting, proved once again why she wears the crown. With poise, precision and raw Nigerian strength, she dominated the field to finish atop the podium, lifting the dual colour high and reaffirming Nigeria’s status as a powerhouse in the sport.

Behind her, Uzbekistan’s Kudratoy Toshpulatova fought hard for silver, whilst Jordan’s Asma Issa claimed bronze.

This victory adds another jewel to Team Nigeria’s fine outing at the Games, where the athletes have shown grit, consistency and world-class execution across events.

Team Nigeria also rounded off its campaign on the tracks with an excellent performance in the Mixed 4x400m relay to clinch the gold medal ahead of Bahrain and Turkey.

The quartet of Gafari Badmus, Anita Enaruna, Ezekiel Asuquo and Patience George outdid themselves with a season’s best of 3:16:27s to win the gold medal.

Nigeria further won an additional gold medal in wrestling with Esther Kolawole beating Ruzanna Mammadova of Azerbaijan in the Women’s 62kg freestyle event. Her compatriot Damola Ojo, however, settled for silver when she lost to Aiperi Kyzy of Kyrgyzstan in the women’s 76kg freestyle event.

Team Nigeria has now won a total of 29 medals, with 10 gold medals, 12 silver and seven bronze medals.

The Director General of the National Sports Commission, NSC, Hon. Bukola Olopade, said it is not a fluke that Nigeria has won medals in every sport it has participated in at the 6th Islamic Solidarity Games, which is clearly a departure from what used to be the case in the past.

“Having sat down with our team at the Commission and the Elite and Podium Board that is being chaired by Yusuf Ali, we decided that only podium prospects should be brought to Riyadh for these games, and that decision has paid out,” the DG stated.

“From boxing, to taekwondo, to weightlifting, wrestling and track and field, we have won medals in all the sports, and this will be the approach of the NSC to other major international competitions like the Commonwealth Games and ultimately the Olympics.”