7th August, 2022
By Ijeoma Okigbo
Nigerian athletes raised the country’s medal haul to 22 on Saturday at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England.
Wrestling dominated the bulk of the medals won on Day 9 of the Games, as Para table tennis, Para athletics and athletes in other sports made the country proud.
Wrestler Mercy Genesis won a gold medal for Nigeria, defeating Canadian Madison Parks 3-1 to win women’s Wrestling Freestyle 50kg.
In the men’s freestyle 57kg, Ebikewenimo Welson won the Silver medal after losing 10-0 to India’s Kumar Ravi while compatriot Hannah Reuben lost 2-4 to Canada’s Justina Di Stasio to clinch silver for Nigeria in the Women’s freestyle 76kg event.
In Para table tennis, Nigeria’s Isau Ogunkunle was dominant in his third place match and did not drop a game, comfortably winning his match in men’s singles classes 5-3.
Ogunkunle defeated India’s Raj Alagar 3-0 to win bronze.
In the same event, Nigeria’s Nasiru Sule lost 1-3 to England’s Jack Hunter-Spivey to settle for silver.
Also in Para table tennis, Faith Obazuaye clinched the bronze medal in Women’s Singles Classes 6-10 third-place match.
Obazuaye defeated Felicity Pickard of England 3-1 to finish on the podium.
In Para Athletics, Eucharia Iyiazi threw a new Games Record of 10.03m to win the gold medal for Nigeria at the women’s shot put F55-57 event.
Her national teammate Ugochi Alam got the Bronze with a throw of 9.30m.
More medals were, however expected in boxing, table tennis and athletics, amongst others.
So far, Nigeria is sixth on the medals table , with nine gold, four silver and nine bronze.
Australia leads with a total medal haul of 147, followed by England, Canada, New Zealand and India.
The Games is scheduled to end on Monday.
