Roland Ezuruike Wins First Gold for Team Nigeria in Paralympics

The ongoing Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil has  seen Team Nigeria win its first gold medal at the event after powerlifter Roland Ezuruike came tops in the 54kg category on Friday.

Ezuruike, who was part of Nigeria’s powerlifters that won 11 medals and broke three world records at last year’s Powerlifting World Open Asian Championships in Almaty, Kazakhstan, set a new world record at the Paralympics by lifting 200kg.

Ezuruike’s feat had Wang Jian of China coming second and Greece’s Dimitros Bakochristos placing third as they completed the podium with silver and bronze medals respectively.

His feat sees Nigeria surge up the medals table to 14th and second in Africa after Tunisia as a few hours earlier Nigeria claimed its first medal at the Games when another powerlifter, Latifat Tijani won silver in the females 54kg category, narrowly missing on gold to China’s Dandan Hu.