Nyong Adds Another Silver to Team Nigeria’s Haul in Weightlifting
Duro Ikhazuagbe in Glasgow
Ruth Asuquo Nyong yesterday added another silver medal to Team Nigeria’s three gold and three silver medals won on the opening day of competition at the ongoing 2026 commonwealth Games here in Glasgow, Scotland.
The 20-year-old Nigerian lifter won the silver medal in the 48kg category of the women’s weightlifting event which kicked off on Sunday.
In the Snatch, she began with a 71kg before increasing the weight bars to 75kg which she also successfully lifted. She however failed to lift her third which was also an upgrade to 77kg.
But after two failed attempts to lift 93kg in the Clean and Jerk, Nyong mustered all strength in her frail body to successfully lift her third attempt of the same weight. Her total point haul of 168 in both the Snatch and Clean & Jerk was a new PB for her as she aims to step up to the gold in subsequent editions of the Games.
India’s Mirabai Chanu Saikhom won the gold medal with 85 and 105 lifts in the Snatch and Clean & Jerk with a total score of 190.
Malaysia’s Irene Jane Henry with 72, 75, 77 (77) and 90, –, 90, and a total of 167 points settled for the consolation bronze.
In Men’s 60 kg category, Malaysia Bin Qasdan Mohanad Aniq, won the gold with a total games record of 273 while Indian lifter Rishikanta Singh Chinambam with total 264 won the silver. Joshua Amunga Mboya gave Kenya their first bronze medal with a total score of 260.
The Weightlifting events will continue this morning at the SEC Armadillo Hall of the Hydro Stadium in Glasgow.
Team Nigeria will continue search for more medals today when the weightlifting event continues with Nigerian lifters, Favour Omonigho Agboro in action in the men’s 65kg categories respectively.
Gold medalist from Birmingham 2022, Rafiatu Lawal will also be in action this Monday morning along with Edidiong Joseph Umoafia (71kg) and Onome Omolola Didih in the 53kg categories respectively.
Elsewhere at the Games, Nigeria’s men’s 3×3 basketball team secured a dramatic 20-19 victory over Guyana to rekindle the team’s chances of making it to the quarter final from Pool A.
After leading Guyana by five points in the opening quarter, Team Nigeria lost focus to allow them to rally back to level 19-19. With the clock winding down, Team Nigeria fought back to snatch the lone point victory at 20-19.
Opening win against Cayman Island on Saturday painted a rosy picture of roller coaster for Nigeria but three consecutive defeats cast a lull on the initial great run with qualification for the quarter finals a mirage until the win last night.
