Team Nigeria ends para-powerlifting campaign with 13 medals
Team Nigeria delivered a dominant performance at the recently concluded 2026 African Open Para-Powerlifting Championships which was staged in Oran, Algeria.
The team led by veteran Folashade Oluwafemiayo bagged 13 medals at the keenly contested championship with seven gold three silver and three bronze medals while also setting new World and African records.
Onyinyechi Mark Gift set a new World Record in the women’s 67kg category, dominating her weight class, while Oluwafemiayo continued her international dominance, clinching gold in the women’s +86kg category.
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Anigbogu Chikordi Esther won a silver medal in the women’s 50kg event, after lifting 114kg, narrowly finishing behind her compatriot Ajiboye Rukayat, who secured the gold medal with a lift of 115kg in a closely fought all-Nigerian contest.
The just concluded championships staged in Algeria also served as a crucial qualification pathway for the World Championships which will be hosted by Bahrain in the month of December.
Nigeria’s sterling performance at the regional championships follows a solid showing at the World Para Powerlifting Championships in Cairo, Egypt, where Team Nigeria also finished second overall on the medal table, securing 20 medals (8 gold, 7 silver, 5 bronze), coming in just behind China.
