Nigeria's Oyema, Ezuruike Win Silver at Glasgow 2026

On the opening day of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, Nigerian athletes Oyema and Roland Ezuruike each secured silver medals in para powerlifting. Oyema, aged 44, competed in the women’s lightweight category, finishing second to compatriot Esther Nworgu, who set a Games record.

Oyema attempted to lift 125kg to break Nworgu’s record but narrowly missed on her first attempt, successfully lifting it on her second attempt, earning 115.5 points. In the men’s lightweight Group A category, Ezuruike claimed silver with a total of 153.9 points, coming close to gold with a final attempt at a Games record lift of 190kg, which he missed.

Both athletes benefited from the National Sports Commission’s performance-based reward policy, with Oyema receiving a total of $5,000 and Ezuruike receiving $4,000. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's commitment to rewarding athletes was evident as Nigeria's campaign commenced successfully.