Nigeria claimed three gold medals in a dominant display on the opening day of the World Para Powerlifting World Cup in Manchester.
Jonah Ben clinched Nigeria’s first victory in the women’s up to 41-kilogrammes category when she recorded a winning lift of 100kg.
Ukrainian Maryna Kopiika was second with 90kg and Britain’s Zoe Newson third with 88kg.
Nigeria’s Latifat Tijani then claimed victory in the women’s up to 45kg division with 95kg.
The silver medal was won by Poland’s Justyna Kozdryk who lifted 90kg, while Kazakhstan’s Gulim Kurmanbayeva clinched bronze with 80kg.
Ukraine’s Paralympic champion Lidiia Soloviova came out on top in the women’s up to 50kg category with 105kg, while two home weightlifters battled it out for the other medals.
Yakubu Adesokan proved too strong in the men’s up to 49kg category
Olivia Broome captured silver with 100kg and Charlotte McGuiness secured bronze on 74kg.
“That was my first World Cup medal,” said McGuiness.
“The lockdown training paid off, the winter training and the cold sessions, so I am happy that it all went to plan.
“This is my second World Cup so I have more experience now and going to the next event I won’t be as nervous as know what to expect and what’s going to happen.”
Paralympic gold medallist Yakubu Adesokan clinched Nigeria’s third gold of the day with a superb lift of 140kg in the men’s up to 49kg division.
Japan’s Tetsuo Nishizaki was second on 138kg and Poland’s Slawomir Szymanski third on 132kg.
In the final event of the day – the men’s up to 54kg category, France’s Axel Bourlon secured gold with 157kg ahead of Ukraine’s Kostiantyn Panasiuk and Japan’s Mitsunori Ichikawa who registered 147kg and 138kg respectively.
