Glasgow Commonwealth Games: Nigeria Wins First Gold Medal, Leads African Countries on Medals’ Table
Opeyemi Oladunjoye
Nigeria claimed her first Gold medal as the ongoing Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland when Chika Amalaha won gold in the women’s 53kg weightlifting category at the Commonwealth Games on Friday.
Amalaha snatched a best of 85kg before managing 111kg in the clean and jerk for a total of 196kg, to become the youngest Commonwealth weightlifter gold medallist.
Papua New Guinea’s Dika Toua took silver at the Clyde Auditorium with 193kg (82111), while India’s Santoshi Matsa claiming bronze with 188kg (83105).
“I’m absolutely delighted,” Amalaha said. “I wasn’t coming here to go for gold, I just wanted to break my own record. I’m so happy that I’m going home with gold in my first Commonwealth Games.
“I started at the age of 12, but my family were strongly against me doing the sport at first. They kept me telling to stop doing it, but I persuaded them by getting a female coach.
“From then on, it was hard work, training, a lot of pain and dedication that got me here today. And now my family were in the audience and they are so excited and so proud.”
At the End of day 2, England still sits at the Summit of the medals table with 12 gold medals and 32 medals in total, Australia follows in the number 2 spot with 11 gold medals and 32 medals in total. Hosts Scotland are third with 7 gold medals and 15 medals in total.
Nigeria leads African countries as number 8 on the table with 1 gold medal and 2 medals in total. South Africa follows at number 11 with 7 medals and no Gold. Cameroon shares the number 13 spot with Jamaica, Papua New Guinea and Sri Lanka with one Silver medal.
