Nigeria’s Esther Nworgu delivered a remarkable performance to win Team Nigeria’s first gold medal at the 2026 Commonwealth Games after setting a new Games record in the Women’s Para Powerlifting Lightweight event in Glasgow, Scotland, Sportblits.com Reports.
The Nigerian star produced a sensational lift of 119.0kg to claim the gold medal, surpassing the previous Commonwealth Games record and reinforcing Nigeria’s reputation as one of the world’s leading nations in para powerlifting.
Adding to Nigeria’s celebrations, compatriot Esther Onyema secured the silver medal with a lift of 115.5kg, completing a memorable one-two finish for Team Nigeria in the lightweight category.
England’s Olivia Broome claimed the bronze medal after lifting 106.6kg, while Kenya’s Hellen Wawira Kariuki, England’s Charlotte McGuinness, and India’s Suman Devi finished fourth, fifth and sixth respectively.
Nworgu delivers a record-breaking performance
Heading into the competition, Esther Nworgu was regarded as one of Nigeria’s strongest medal prospects following her impressive performances at recent international championships.
She lived up to those expectations by producing an outstanding lift of 119.0kg, a performance that not only secured the gold medal but also established a new Commonwealth Games record in the women’s lightweight category.
Her display highlighted the strength, technique and composure that have made her one of Nigeria’s leading para powerlifters.
The victory also gave Team Nigeria the perfect start to its campaign in Glasgow, providing confidence for the athletes competing later in the Games.
Esther Onyema completes Nigerian one-two finish
Nigeria’s dominance in the event was further underlined by the performance of Esther Onyema, who claimed the silver medal with a successful lift of 115.5kg.
The experienced para powerlifter once again demonstrated her consistency on the international stage, ensuring that Nigeria occupied the top two positions on the podium.
The one-two finish reflects the country’s remarkable depth in para powerlifting, a discipline in which Nigerian athletes have consistently excelled at the Commonwealth Games, Paralympic Games and World Championships.
For Onyema, the silver medal adds another significant achievement to an already distinguished international career.
Nigeria’s para powerlifting dominance continues
The latest success further strengthens Nigeria’s reputation as one of the global powerhouses in para powerlifting.
Over the years, Nigerian athletes have regularly delivered medals at major international competitions through a combination of technical excellence, rigorous preparation and outstanding determination.
The performances of Nworgu and Onyema once again showcased the quality within Team Nigeria’s para powerlifting programme and highlighted why the country continues to rank among the sport’s elite nations.
Their achievements also provide inspiration for the younger generation of para athletes aiming to represent Nigeria on the international stage.
Roland Ezuruike opened Nigeria’s medal account
Earlier in the day, experienced para powerlifter Roland Ezuruike secured Team Nigeria’s first medal of the Games after winning silver in the Men’s Lightweight event.
His podium finish set the tone for what became an impressive opening day for the Nigerian delegation.
With Nworgu claiming gold and Onyema adding another silver, Team Nigeria quickly established itself among the leading nations in para powerlifting at the Games.
Strong start to Nigeria’s Commonwealth campaign
At the conclusion of the opening day’s events, Team Nigeria had accumulated three medals:
- 🥇 Gold – Esther Nworgu (Women’s Lightweight Para Powerlifting)
- 🥈 Silver – Esther Onyema (Women’s Lightweight Para Powerlifting)
- 🥈 Silver – Roland Ezuruike (Men’s Lightweight Para Powerlifting)
The medal haul represents an encouraging start for the Nigerian contingent as athletes continue competing across multiple disciplines in Glasgow.
With several world champions and Paralympic medallists still scheduled to compete, expectations remain high that Team Nigeria will add significantly to its medal tally in the coming days.
Nigeria aiming for another successful Commonwealth Games
The National Sports Commission had expressed confidence before the Games that Team Nigeria could produce one of its strongest performances in recent Commonwealth history.
The early success in para powerlifting has already provided a major boost to those ambitions.
Nworgu’s record-breaking gold medal not only marks a memorable personal achievement but also reinforces Nigeria’s tradition of excellence in para sports.
As competition continues in Glasgow, Nigerian supporters will be hoping the momentum created by Nworgu, Onyema and Ezuruike inspires more podium finishes across the remaining events.
If the opening day is any indication, Team Nigeria appears well-positioned to enjoy another successful Commonwealth Games campaign.
