Asaba 2022: Edidiong, Lawal Shines As Akwa Ibom, Oyo Dominate Weightlifting Events

Asaba 2022: Edidiong, Lawal Shines As Akwa Ibom, Oyo Dominate Weightlifting Events 

Ibraheem Lateef Ayodele

Akwa Ibom and Oyo States were dominant on Day 3 of Weightlifting events at the ongoing National Sports Festival, NSF in Asaba Delta State as they won gold medals to increase their medal haul, reports BSNSports.com.ng.

Commonwealth bronze medallist, Emmanuel Edidiong representing Akwa Ibom State won three gold medals in 73kg men category.

Edidiong lifted 142kg, 170kg and 312kg to win gold in Snatch, Clean & Jerk and Total. Emmanuel Eric of Edo state won silver in Snatch with 131kg lift and picked bronze medals in Clean & Jerk with 152kg and Total with 277kg lifts. 

Delta State lifter, Jubril Abubakar won two silver medals in Clean & Jerk and Total as well as bronze in Snatch with 152kg, 282kg and 130kg lifts. 

In the 59kg women category, two Commonwealth gold medal winners, Rafiatu Lawal of Oyo State and Olarinoye Adijat of Lagos State had a decisive day as both battled for superiority in the category.

However, in the end, Rafiatu made her experience count as she defeated Olarinoye who was making her first competition in 59kg category after moving from the 54kg where she won gold medal at the Commonwealth Games in England 

Rafiatu claimed all the three gold medals in the 59kg women category while Olarinoye won all the silver medals leaving Peace Annokwuru of Rivers State to scoop the bronze medals in the Snatch, Clean & Jerk and Total. 

In the 64kg women category, another Commonwealth medalist, Islamiyat Yusuf from Osun State made her experience count as she won gold in Snatch, silver in Total and Bronze in Clean & Jerk. 

Ruth Ayodele of Oyo State picked two gold medals in Clean & Jerk and Total after lifting 125kg and 222kg respectively. Sarah Matthew of Kogi State won bronze in Snatch while Happiness Igbinosa of Edo State won silver in Clean & Jerk and bronze in Total.