Nigeria Wins Third Powerlifting Gold as Boxing Team Faces Setbacks at Commonwealth Games

By Emmanuel Kwada

Nigeria’s impressive outing at the ongoing Commonwealth Games in Glasgow gathered further momentum on Friday night as para powerlifter Riluwan Idris clinched the country’s third gold medal, reinforcing Team Nigeria’s dominance in the para powerlifting event despite disappointing results in boxing and mixed performances in 3×3 basketball.

The 23-year-old Idris delivered a commanding display in the men’s heavyweight para powerlifting category, lifting an outstanding 208kg to secure Nigeria’s latest gold medal and extend the nation’s remarkable success in the competition.

Riluwan Idris

Idris began his campaign confidently with a successful 200kg lift before raising the bar to 208kg on his second attempt, a performance that proved unbeatable. England’s Matthew Harding settled for the silver medal after failing to surpass the Nigerian’s total, while Malaysia’s Nicodemus Manggoi Moses claimed bronze.

Although Idris attempted to set a new Commonwealth Games record on his final lift, the ambitious effort fell short. Nevertheless, his gold medal added another chapter to Nigeria’s growing reputation as a global force in para powerlifting.

The latest triumph means Nigeria has now secured three gold medals and six medals overall at the Games, with every medal coming from the para powerlifting competition.

The achievement surpasses the country’s performance at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, where Nigeria finished with two gold medals and a total of five medals in the same event.

The result also highlights the consistency of Nigeria’s para athletes, who have continued to deliver outstanding performances on the international stage despite challenges confronting sports development at home.

While celebrations erupted in the Nigerian camp following Idris’ victory, it was a difficult day for the country’s boxing contingent.

Abdulwahab Abdulramon and Nuhu Batte 

In the men’s 65kg division, Abdulramon Abdulwahab was comprehensively defeated by Uganda’s Nuhu Batte, losing 5-0 after struggling to match his opponent’s pace and accuracy throughout the contest.

Another setback followed in the women’s category, where Ayomide Hassan Foly also bowed out after suffering a 4-0 defeat to Lesotho’s Refiloe Thai, bringing Nigeria’s hopes of progressing further in boxing to an early disappointment.

The mixed fortunes continued on the basketball court, where Nigeria’s men’s 3×3 team opened its campaign with an encouraging 21-17 victory over the Cayman Islands.

However, the winning start proved difficult to sustain as the team suffered back-to-back defeats against stronger opponents. Australia defeated Nigeria 21-15 before New Zealand completed the day’s disappointing run with a 21-10 victory.

Despite the losses in boxing and basketball, Nigeria’s exceptional performance in para powerlifting has emerged as the nation’s biggest source of pride at the Games.

Sports analysts say the dominance reflects years of investment in para sports and the resilience of Nigerian athletes, many of whom have consistently excelled at continental and global competitions.

With several events still to be contested, Team Nigeria remains optimistic about adding more medals to its tally as athletes continue their quest for podium finishes in Glasgow.

For now, Riluwan Idris’ gold medal has strengthened Nigeria’s position among the top-performing nations in para powerlifting and reaffirmed the country’s status as one of the discipline’s leading forces within the Commonwealth.