Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa and Rivers weightlifters shine at 22nd National Sports Festival
The weightlifting events at the 2024 National Sports Festival in Ogun State have now concluded, with Nigerian lifters once again showcasing their exceptional talent.
Just a few weeks after dominating the 2025 Africa Senior Weightlifting Championship (ASWC) in Mauritius, Umoafia Joseph Edidiong, Sarah Matthew, and Ruth Ayodele continued to impress, winning multiple gold medals in their categories.
Representing Akwa Ibom State, Edidiong won three gold medals in the 73kg men’s category. He lifted 140kg in the snatch, 160kg in the clean and jerk, and a total of 300kg, cementing his status as the champion in this category for the fourth consecutive edition of the National Sports Festival.
In the women’s 76kg category, Sarah Matthew from Rivers State dominated by winning all three gold medals on offer. She lifted 105kg in the snatch, 130kg in the clean and jerk, and a total of 235kg, ensuring Rivers State took home the gold in this category.
Ruth Ayodele, another ASWC gold medallist, won all three available gold medals in the 64kg women’s category for Bayelsa State. Meanwhile, Rafiatu Folashade Lawal of Oyo State, who also won gold at the ASWC, replicated her success by winning three gold medals for her state in the 87kg women’s category.
Other notable performances included Taiwo Osuo of Oyo State, who claimed three gold medals in the 87kg women’s category, while Sharon Moses of Edo State and Chiamaka Odabuchi of Delta State won silver and bronze medals, respectively.
In the 71kg women’s category, Islamyat Yusuf of Osun State took all three gold medals, lifting 102kg in the snatch, 131kg in the clean and jerk, and achieving a total of 233kg. Her competitors were left to fight for silver and bronze, with Ogungbure Blessing of Lagos and Joy Benedict of Edo State finishing with silver and bronze. Ruth Inyang of Rivers State bagged two gold medals and one silver while Theresa Daniel of Akwa Ibom won her first ever gold in the competition.
