Dr. Ibrahim Abdul, President of the Nigeria Weightlifting Federation (NWF), has urged Nigerian weightlifters competing at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris to compete with determination and integrity.
Nigeria is represented in weightlifting by two athletes: Rafiatu Folashade Lawal, competing in the 59kg class, and Joy Ọgbonne Eze, who is in the 71kg category.
Dr. Abdul, speaking in Abuja, emphasized that the federation is committed to supporting the athletes to secure medals, noting that the lifters have been in training camp since April, two months before the Ministry of Sports assumed control of the camp in June.
The weightlifting events at the Paris Olympics begin today, with Nigeria’s debuting duo of Rafiatu Lawal and Joy Eze set to showcase their skills.
He expressed confidence on the lifters and urged Nigerians to support them with prayers for them to excel.
“We are happy with what we have done so far as far as this Olympic Games is concerned. We have two athletes representing us, all of them are females. They withstood the rigour and pressure in the qualifying series to reach their first Olympic Games.
“They have come a long way because now they are competing among the world bests. I told them on phone few days ago that they should fear no foe. Everybody is beatable. Today I reinforce that statement and urge them to compete firm and fair. We have done everything from our end to give them the necessary support including conducting doping test on them regularly while they camped.
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“I have no doubt that they will do our country proud. I urge Nigerians to support them with prayers. They are at the global stage and we hope they will deliver,” Dr Ibrahim Abdul said.
The Nigeria lifters went to camp in Abuja shortly after arriving to the country from Accra, Ghana where they participated in the 13th edition of Africa Games hosted by Ghana. Both Lawal and Eze won three gold medals each in their respective classes.
From Abuja, they flew into Germany where they had a week camping before they arrived France on 27 July for another closed camping. The athletes are currently in Paris.
NWF President provided more insights on the camping and commended the ministry of sports for their support.
“They were camped in three places – Abuja, Germany and France. Shortly after their Africa Games where they both won 3 gold medals each, we opened camp for them in Abuja because we wanted them to remain in competitive mood.
“When the government now took over, they went to Germany in continuation of their camping and later they flew to France. The France camping was organised by the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF). France camping was a kind of closed camp competition that allowed them to compete with others. It helped them to be in competitive spirit. It was from there that they arrived Paris and they are ready to be on stage when the weightlifting event starts on Wednesday.
“Let me also use this medium to thank the Federal Government through the Minister of Sports for their support. Our athletes are good to go and they will make us proud,” he added.
Lawal and Eze will be aiming to better Nigeria’s weightlifting performance at the Olympics where the federation have won two medals – a silver and a bronze in 2000 and 2008 Olympics.
Ruth Ogbeifo won Nigeria’s first ever weightlifting medal in the year 2000 at Sydney, Australia, a silver medal in the 75kg while Mariam Usman, a four time African Champion bagged the second medal for Nigeria, a bronze medal in the +75kg at the 2008 Games in Beijing, China.