Oluchi tobex tobe-Chukwu
Team Nigeria has officially claimed its first medal at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, securing a podium finish courtesy of a silver medal performance by Paralympic veteran Roland Ezuruike.
Competing in the highly contested Men’s Lightweight Para Powerlifting event at the SEC Armadillo, Ezuruike delivered an outstanding display of strength and technique to lift 153.9kg , firmly securing his place on the podium.
The Men’s Lightweight division proved to be incredibly competitive. Ezuruike’s impressive 153.9kg lift actually matched the winning effort of England’s Mark Swan. However, Swan was awarded the gold medal via the countback tiebreaker rule, meaning Ezuruike walked away with a hard-fought and heavily deserved silver. Malaysia’s Bonnie Bunyau Gustin closely followed the leading duo to claim the bronze medal with a lift of 153.5kg.
Securing the first medal of the Games provides an immediate morale boost for the entire Nigerian contingent currently competing in Scotland. As a seasoned athlete with a deep history of world-class performances, Ezuruike’s silver-winning effort once again highlights Nigeria’s enduring global pedigree in the sport of para-powerlifting.
The accomplishment sets a highly positive tone for the rest of the delegation as they pursue the National Sports Commission’s broader medal targets in the coming days.
