Gateway Games 2024: Nigeria’s weightlifting champions continue dominance at 2025 Sports Festival

Less than a month after their stellar performances at the 2025 Africa Senior Weightlifting Championship (ASWC) in Mauritius, Nigeria’s top lifters are maintaining their winning streak at the ongoing 2024 National Sports Festival in Ogun State.

The trio—Umoafia Joseph Edidiong, Sarah Matthew, and Ruth Ayodele—are proving they are unmatched on the continental and national stages, with impressive medal hauls.

Edidiong, representing Akwa Ibom, clinched three gold medals in the men’s 73kg category on Tuesday.

He lifted 140kg in snatch, 160kg in clean & jerk, and a total of 300kg, securing his dominance in the category—a title he’s held across four editions of the NSF dating back to 2018.

Cross River’s Gabriel Idagu earned silver in snatch (119kg), while Plateau’s Friday Johanna added two silvers and a bronze to Nigeria’s tally with lifts of 117kg snatch, 141kg clean & jerk, and a combined total of 258kg.

Delta’s Jubril Abubakar also contributed two bronze medals in clean & jerk and total.

Sarah Matthew, representing Rivers State, continued her dominance in the women’s 76kg class by sweeping all three gold medals.

She lifted 105kg in snatch, 130kg in clean & jerk, and totaled 235kg. Her outstanding performance extended Rivers’ medal haul, leaving Edo’s Caroline Okouokha and Oyo’s Rosemary Ekah to settle for silver and bronze medals.

Other notable winners include Bayelsa’s Ruth Ayodele, who took all three medals in the women’s 64kg category, and Oyo’s Rafiatu Folashade Lawal, also securing a clean sweep of gold medals.

In the women’s 87kg class, Oyo’s Taiwo Osuo swept all three golds, while in the women’s 71kg category, 2022 Commonwealth bronze medalist Islamiyat Yusuf dominated, claiming three golds for Osun.

Edo’s Sharon Moses and Delta’s Chiamaka Odabuchi showcased resilience with three silver and bronze medals respectively in their categories, adding to Nigeria’s impressive medal tally.

The weightlifting competition at the 22nd National Sports Festival is set to conclude Wednesday, with more thrilling performances and medal ceremonies expected to energize the ongoing event.

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