By Daily Sports on September 13, 2016

Nigeria broke two more records in powerlifting (women) on Monday as the African country tightened her grip on the overall medal tally at Rio 2016 Paralympics.

Nigeria’s Ndidi Nwosu was a shock winner of the women’s up to 73kg event to commence the day’s proceedings, clearing 140kg to upstage heavy favourite and defending champion, Souhad Ghazouani, of France.

Ghazouani led the competition until Nwosu’s final lift, 15kg more than her second attempt of 125kg, forced the Frenchwoman to produce a successful final attempt, which she was unable to do at 145kg, leaving her in second position.

The bronze medal went to Egpyt’s Amany Ali, who cleared all three of her attempts, finishing with 127kg.

“I feel happy; I feel great,” said a very excited Nwosu after pulling off one of the biggest upsets of the entire powerlifting competition.

“It was not me that lifted it; it was the power I’ve got.

The 140kg effort was a personal best for the Nigerian, who even surprised herself with the result.

“She is the champion and I didn’t think I could beat her, but I drew on the power I’ve got and did it,” Nwosu said.

She first started training for the sport in 2002, but has taken 14 years to reach her first Paralympics after taking a break to get married and start a family.

Nwosu admitted it was seeing the success of her fellow Nigerian athletes that inspired her to return to training in 2014 – and ultimately become the Paralympic champion.

There has been a great feeling within the Nigerian powerlifting team which has won multiple gold medals during the competition, with Nwosu already eyeing the world record and a repeat performance at Tokyo 2020.

Nigeria’s winning ways continued in the women’s up to 79kg category when Bose Omolayo claimed gold and added to her previous world record mark with a massive lift of 138kg.

Omolayo held off China’s Lili Xu who took the silver with 135kg, while Chinese Taipei won its first medal of the competition thanks to a 125kg effort from Tzu-Hui Lin.

The Paralympic debut couldn’t have gone more smoothly for Omolayo who became Nigeria’s fifth gold medallist of the powerlifting competition.

•Photo shows Ndidi Nwosu

Source Daily Sports

Posted September 13, 2016

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