Team Nigeria continued its dominance in para powerlifting at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow on Friday, with Folashade Oluwafemiayo and Riluwan Idris winning gold medals, while Rita Ferdinand claimed silver after setting a new world record.
The latest medals took Nigeria’s tally at the Games to six, with the country’s para powerlifters accounting for every podium finish so far. Earlier in the competition, Roland Ezuruike won silver in the men’s Lightweight Group A event, while Esther Nworgu secured Nigeria’s first gold medal alongside Esther Oyema’s silver in the women’s lightweight category.
Oluwafemiayo once again underlined her status as one of the world’s finest para powerlifters, producing a breathtaking performance in the women’s +86kg category. The Nigerian broke the world record twice to seal the gold medal with a sensational lift of 175kg, finishing with 134.8 points.
Her latest triumph adds to an already glittering career and reinforces her dominance on the international stage, having once again raised the standard in the heavyweight division.
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In the same event, Rita Ferdinand delivered another record-breaking display for the women’s up to 79kg category. Ferdinand surpassed the previous world record of 154kg, held by China’s Han Miayou, by lifting an impressive 158kg to establish a new global mark.
Despite her historic lift, Ferdinand finished with the silver medal after scoring 128.2 points, adding another medal to Nigeria’s rapidly growing tally.
Riluwan Idris completed a memorable day for Team Nigeria by claiming the men’s heavyweight para powerlifting title. Lifting an outstanding 208kg, the Nigerian secured the country’s third gold medal of the Games.
Competing at a body weight of just 86kg, Idris amassed 132.8 points to narrowly defeat England’s Matthew Harding, who lifted 199kg to score 131.0 points and settle for silver. Malaysia’s Nicodemus Moses claimed the bronze medal with 120.3 points.
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