Ejike wins Nigeria’s first gold medal at para-powerlifting championship

Lucy Ejike has won Nigeria’s first gold medal in the women’s 67kg event at the ongoing world para-powerlifting championship in Tbilisi, Georgia.

The 44-year-old out-lifted her opponent in the competition, which was held on Wednesday, to secure her third world championship gold.

The Nigerian was pronounced the winner after China’s Yujiao Tan failed to lift her final attempt. Tan settled for silver while Egypt’s Fatma Omar took bronze for lifting 122kg in her final attempt.

Ejike was elated to have returned to the top of her weight category after a relatively disappointing outing at the Tokyo Paralympic earlier this year, where she took bronze.

You need to know how to celebrate your success. 🥳

If you don’t, you can take some lessons from our 3️⃣-time world champion Lucy Ejike! 🇳🇬#Tbilisi2021 | #ParaPowerlifting | @Paralympics pic.twitter.com/EALuRQ6HMS

— #ParaPowerlifting (@Powerlifting) December 1, 2021

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“I feel so great to come back to my number one position again, winning the gold medal in Tbilisi World para-powerlifting championships. I feel so happy,” she said.

The Enugu-based powerlifter is one of Nigeria’s most decorated Paralympians, with six Paralympic medals for the country since she made her debut in Sydney 2000.

Meanwhile, in the women’s 61kg category, Onyinyechi Mark was narrowly beaten to the gold medal by Mexico’s Amalia Perez.

Mark took silver while China’s Jianjin Cui secured the bronze medal.

The competition started on November 28 and is expected to end on December 5.