Nigerian weightlifters on Monday took a bold step towards sweeping the three available African slots for the Olympic Games as the team won all the six gold medals at stake on Day One of the Beijing 2008 qualifiers holding in South Africa, local media reported on Tuesday.
The country recorded three gold medals in the men's category and also won three gold, two silver and one bronze medals in the women's events.
Steve Olarinoye, the Secretary General of the Nigeria Weightlifting Federation, told local media that Emmanuel Akpan, competing in the men's 56kg, won three gold medals and created a new African record in the snatch category.
"He lifted 106kg to erase the former record of 105kg," he said.
He said the competition just started and hope the lifters would sustain the momentum to get the desired results, adding that the lifters are in good shape and everyone is hoping to avoid any mistake that could affect the overall standing of Nigeria.
In the women's 48kg, Chineye Fidelis won two gold and one bronze medal while compatriot Onyeka Azike, a USA-based lifter, won one gold and two silvers in the same category.
Source: Xinhua
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