It was a thrilling Day 2 in the Weightlifting arena at the ongoing Ogun 2024 National Sports Festival, as Rivers and Lagos States stole the spotlight with dominant performances, sweeping multiple gold medals in various categories.
Nyong, Didih Lead the Charge for Rivers and Lagos
Rivers’ Ruth Nyong and Lagos’ African Champion, Omolola Onome Didih, were the standout performers of the day, collectively securing six gold and three silver medals in the women’s 49kg and 55kg categories.
In the Women’s 49kg, Nyong clinched two gold medals lifting 75kg in the snatch and 167kg in total. Her 92kg lift in the Clean & Jerk earned her a silver medal, contributing significantly to Rivers State’s medal tally.
Lagos’ Quadri Zainab added a silver in snatch (72kg), while Kano’s Adamma Dorcas Anyimba bagged bronze in both the snatch (71kg) and total (157kg). Ogun’s Monica Uweh took home bronze in the Clean & Jerk with an 88kg lift.
Delta State’s Ebele Chukwu Vanessa Agbah claimed gold in the Clean & Jerk (93kg) and silver in total (164kg).
Didih Shines in 55kg, Okon Denies Her a Clean Sweep
Lagos’ Omolola Onome Didih, a gold medallist at the African Games, was in top form in the Women’s 55kg, winning gold in snatch (93kg) and total (205kg). However, she was edged out in the Clean & Jerk by Theresa Daniel Okon of Akwa Ibom, whose 113kg lift secured her the gold, leaving Didih with silver in that category.
Temidayo Jegede (Kano) lifted her way to two silvers and a bronze, while Lagos’ Joy Chima secured two bronze medals in snatch and total.
Cross River’s Kalu, IJA’s Chijoke Dominate Men’s 55kg and Women’s 45kg
In the Men’s 55kg, Cross River’s King Kalu, a 2023 African Games gold medallist, completed a hat-trick of golds with a 94kg snatch, 121kg Clean & Jerk, and a 215kg total.
Bayelsa’s Elechi Nnadozie Elvis and Ekiti’s Abayomi Adeleye completed the podium in the snatch event with 93kg and 92kg lifts, respectively.
Oyo’s Tobi Ishola and Bayelsa’s John Solomon shared medals in the Clean & Jerk and total events, while Solomon added a silver for Bayelsa with his 207kg total.
In the Women’s 45kg, Esther Amarachi Chijoke of the Invited Junior Athletes (IJA) made a big statement with two gold medals in the Clean & Jerk (82kg) and total (146kg), along with a silver in snatch (64kg).
Lagos’ Ronke Olarinoye took gold in the snatch (65kg) and bronze in total, while Rivers’ Christiana Alloma won two silvers and a bronze, showcasing the depth of competition across the states.
