Team Nigeria’s weightlifters comprising six athletes and three officials yesterday departed Nigeria for the 2023 International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) Championship in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.
According to a statement signed by the Nigeria Weightlifting Federation (NWF)’s media officer, Mr Amaechi Agbo, the contingent boarded an Ethiopia Airline at 1.30 p.m. local time from MMIA to Riyadh.Ameachi said the championship, which serves as a qualifier for Paris 2024 Summer Olympics commenced on September 4 and would be concluded on September 17.
The lifters comprising four females and two males, are Adijat Olarinoye (59kg), Rofiat Lawal (59kg), Joy Eze (71kg) Ruth Ogbeifo (64 kg) Umoafia Edidiong (67kg) and Desmond Akanlo (89kg).
“Nigeria will participate in six categories at the championship with Umofia Edidiong competing in 73kg and Akano Desmond in 89kg, men’s categories.“Lawal Folashade Rafiatu and Olarinoye Adijat Adenike will compete in the 59kg women’s category. While Eze Joy Ogbenne and Ayodele Ruth Imoleayo will compete in the 71kg and 64kg women’s categories, in that order,” Ameachi said.
The three officials who accompany the athletes are: Ojadi Aduche, Usman Shehu and Okpo Dorothy Bernard.
Folashade Lawal and Adijat Olarinoye, who both won three gold and three silver medals respectively at the 2023 Senior Africa Weightlifting Championship in Tunisia in May this year, will compete in the 59kg women’s category on September 7 by 11.30 a.m.
Edidiong Umofia will compete in the 73kg men’s category on Sept. 8 by 12 noon, while Akano Desmond will take his turn in the 89kg men’s category two days later, Sept. 10th by 9.30 a.m.
Ayodele Ruth and Eze Joy Ogbenne will compete in the 64kg and 71kg women’s categories on Sept. 10 by 2.30 p.m. and 7.30 p.m. respectively.
Nigeria had a glorious outing in their first Olympic Games qualifying race in Tunisia four months ago when five athletes amassed 12 medals at the 2023 Senior Africa Weightlifting Championship in Tunisia, which also served as 2024 Olympic Games qualifier.
The weightlifters who have been in camp for the past two months are optimistic that they would consolidate their Olympic Games 2024 qualification hopes in Riyadh.
The 2023 IWF Championship has a record entry of 117 countries participating with 719 lifters made up of 365 men and 354 women.
Nigeria weightlifters will participate in three championship qualifiers as they seek to return the country to the global weightlifting map in the 2024 Olympics Games in Paris, France.