50-year-old Ezuruike cliches Nigeria’s first medal at Commonwealth Games

Roland Ezuruike has clinched Nigeria’s first medal at the 2025 Commonwealth Games in the men’s lightweight para-powerlifting event.

The 50-year-old lifted almost four times his body weight to post 187kg on his second attempt and was tied for the gold medal on 153.9 points with Mike Swan of England going into the final lift.

However, Ezuruike fouled in his last attempt and had to settle for the silver medal.

Swan took the gold despite also failing his last attempt, while Bonnie Gustin of Malaysia finished with a bronze medal.

The silver is a step down from the gold medal Ezuruike won at the same event of the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia.

He also won a gold medal in men’s 54kg powerlifting at the Rio Paralympics in 2016.

Ibrahim Dauda, the other Nigerian in the men’s lightweight para-powerlifting event, finished fifth.

The team will play Australia and New Zealand at 5:25 pm and 7 pm, respectively, on Friday.

In swimming, Clinton Opute finished sixth in the first heat of the men’s 200m individual medley.

Nigeria are expecting more medals in para-powerlifting when Folasade Oluwafemiayo compete in the women’s heavyweight event on Friday evening.

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