Onyinyechi Shatters World Record as Nigeria Clinches 49 Medals at African Para-Powerlifting Open

Nigeria finished second overall at the African Open Para-Powerlifting Championships in Oran with an impressive haul of 49 medals. Onyinyechi Mark stole the show by breaking both the world and African records on the final day of competition. Team Nigeria closed the four-day event with 32 gold, 12 silver, and five bronze medals, trailing only Egypt’s 84-medal total. Onyinyechi’s world-record lift in the women’s 67kg category reinforced Nigeria’s growing dominance in para-powerlifting. Folashade Oluwafemiayo also struck gold in the women’s +86kg class, while Anigbogu Chikordi Esther claimed silver in the women’s 50kg after lifting 114kg. Her compatriot Ajiboye Rukayat edged her out with a 115kg lift in an all-Nigerian showdown. The championships doubled as a qualifying pathway for December’s World Championships in Bahrain and offered vital ranking points towards the 2028 Paralympics in Los Angeles. The tournament featured 151 athletes from 15 African nations alongside competitors from Asia and Europe.

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