Latifat Tijani
Tokyo Paralympics: Nigeria begins medal haul, wins first gold
Nigeria’s Latifat Tijani has won gold for the country by defeating championship favourite China’s Zhe Cui with a lift of 107kg in the 45kg women’s powerlifting event.
The Nigerian athlete at the ongoing Tokyo Paralympic Games, Tijani won the country’s first gold medal.
Latifat Tijani, the gold medalist at the Brazzaville 2015 Africa Games and silver medalist at the Rio 2016 Paralympics, took part in the women’s 45kg powerlifting on Thursday, and came top place, winning gold.
China’s Zhe Cui lifted 102kg to claim silver.
The bronze was won by Poland’s Justyna Kozdryk who lifted 101kg.
Meanwhile another Nigerian Yakubu Adesokan’s best lift of 155kg was just not enough to push him into a medal position on Thursday in the men’s powerlifting -49kg at the 2020 Paralympics in Tokyo.
The 42-year-old who won the competition’s -48kg at the London 2012 Games with a lift of 180kg could only place fourth behind Parvin Mammadov of Azerbaijan.
The Azerbaijani lifted 156kg to finish third and claim the bronze medal.
Omar Qarada of Jordan won the gold medal after lifting 173kg, ahead of le van Cong of Vietnam who also lifted 173kg but was awarded the silver medal.
