Nigerian Sports

Islamic Solidarity Games: Weightlifting Federation celebrates athletes’ performance

The Nigeria Weightlifting Federation (NWF) has expressed satisfaction over the performance of its weightlifters at the ongoing Islamic Solidarity Games in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The weightlifting team excelled at the 2025 Islamic Solidarity Games, amassing a total of 14 medals, which include 6 gold, 5 silver and 3 bronze.

The team’s success was led by Rafiatu Lawal, who won the first gold medal for Nigeria, securing a clean sweep of three gold medals in the women’s 58kg class for the snatch, clean and jerk and total lift events.

Edidiong Umoafia also produced a stunning performance, earning one gold, one silver, and one bronze medal in the men’s 71kg category.

The duo of Sarah Matthew and Joy Ayodele secured a gold medal in the snatch and a silver medal in the total lift in the women’s 77kg division, and one silver and two bronze medals in the women’s 63kg event, respectively, while Islamiyat Yusuf won a gold medal in the women’s 69kg snatch.

Federation’s secretary general, Melvina Apeh Ashinedu, described the athletes’ performance at the Games as excellent, adding that the team could have done better but for some injury worries.

She also commended the leadership of the National Sports Commission, the Nigeria Olympic Committee and the president of NWF, saying their support was huge in the team’s success.

She said, “I can tell you that the team did very well at the 2025 Islamic Solidarity Games. In fact, I scored them excellent. The athletes were in high spirits, and they did very well.

“We can’t say we are one hundred per cent satisfied because we could have done better, but due to injury, we lost two more gold medals. But in all, the athletes gave their best.

“The motivation behind the team’s success was the enormous support from the president of the Nigeria Weightlifting Federation, Dr Abdul Ibrahim. Support from the National Sports Commission and the Nigeria Olympics Committee was massive.”

Team Nigeria made a significant impact at the 6th Islamic Solidarity Games in Riyadh, standing in the top ten on the overall medal table due to an exceptional performance by their weightlifting team.

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