Nigeria’s brilliant run at the 2025 Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships in Ahmedabad reached new heights on Thursday as Islamiyat Yusuf, Sarah Matthew, and Adedapo Adeleke Opadeji added three gold medals and a bronze to the country’s growing tally.

Yusuf stole the show in the women’s 69kg division, producing a flawless display to take gold. With lifts of 105kg in the snatch and 131kg in the clean & jerk, she amassed a commanding 236kg total to finish comfortably ahead of her rivals.

In the 77kg class, teenage sensation Sarah Matthew confirmed her status as one of the sport’s brightest prospects. The 18-year-old powered her way to two gold medals, winning both the junior and senior titles with a combined lift of 236kg (108kg snatch + 128kg clean & jerk).

There was further success in the men’s 79kg, where Adedapo Adeleke Opadeji battled through a strong field to claim bronze, finishing behind India’s Ajaya Babu (gold) and Malaysia’s Muhammad Erry Hidayat (silver).

Wednesday’s Momentum Carries Forward

The victories build on Nigeria’s impressive showing a day earlier. Joseph Edidiong Umoafia, reigning African Games champion, narrowly missed out on gold in the men’s 71kg after posting a 316kg total (146kg + 170kg) — just one kilogram shy of India’s Ajith Narayana. In the women’s 63kg, Ruth Imoleayo Ayodele secured bronze with a 212kg lift (95kg + 117kg).

Early Medal Rush

Tuesday’s opening events had already set the tone, with Ruth Asuquo Nyong winning silver and Omolola Onome striking gold for Nigeria.

Current Standings

With competition still ongoing, Team Nigeria’s medal haul now stands at four gold, two silver, and two bronze medals — keeping hopes alive for more podium finishes before the championships conclude.