Ashinedu Apeh, Secretary-General of Nigeria Weightlifting Federation ( NWF ), said that Nigeria’s chances of Paris Olympic Games weightlifting event qualification is still intact.
This is contained in a statement signed by Amaechi Agbo, the Media Officer of NWF on Saturday in Abuja.
According to Apeh, Nigeria consolidated her Olympic Games qualification aspirations as two lifters – Ruth Ayodele and Rafiatu Lawal – made it into the top 10 positions in the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) Championship in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
“Ayodele who won the three medals, two silver and one bronze in 64kg women category after 100kg in snatch, and 122kg in clean and Jerk making a total of 222kg lift, is placed second position on the IWF Championship final table.
“ Lawal placed sixth position in the championship table after she had 100kg in snatch, 122kg in clean and Jerk and 222kg in total in the 59kg women category.
“The Riyadh Championship also serves as the 2024 Olympic Games qualifier,” she said.
According to her, there is still room for others (lifters) to improve and get to that level.
“We still have three more qualifying championships to participate in, Nigeria will participate in three more competitions before their Olympic tickets are determined.
“The Championships included: IWF Grand Prix in Doha, Qatar from Dec.1 to Dec.17; Africa Championship scheduled for Feb. 25 to March 2, 2024 and IWF World Cup in Phuket, Thailand in April 2024.
“I am optimistic that giving the NWF President, Ibrahim Abdul, determination and focus, as well as the athletes hard work, we will get the tickets, ” she said.
In the women category athletes include ; Rafiatu Lawal placed sixth position and Olarinoye Adijat was placed 15th position on the overall table with a total of 215kg lift both competed in the 59kg.
Ruth Ayodele, who won the three medals in 64kg and Joy Ogbonne who competed in 71kg placed 14th in the overall table after lifting a total of 227kg.
While in the men category, Edidiong Umoafia placed 18th position had 140kg in the snatch, 170kg in the clean and jerk and 310kg in the total in the men’s 73kg category.
Desmond Akano placed 22nd on the table had in snatch is 145 kg, clean and jerk 193kg and Total 338kg in the men’s 89kg category.
The three officials are: Ojadi Aduche, Usman Shehu and Dorothy Bernard.
She said that the first batch of Nigeria contingent at the 2023 IWF Championship arrived Abuja on Monday and final batch arrived Abuja on Thursday after winning three medals at the championship in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
NAN reports that the 2023 IWF World weightlifting championships in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia started on Sept. 4 and ended on Sept. 17.
