Nigeria’s female weightlifters arrive in Yaounde for championships

Nigeria’s female weightlifting team have arrived in Yaounde, Cameroon, for the continental championships, the Nigeria Weightlifting Federation announced on Saturday.

The competition holds from May 7 to May 13.

Steve Olarinloye, the Federation’s board member, told NAN that the team comprising seven lifters and two coaches departed the country on Friday.
According to him, another member of the federation, Ahmed Zanna, is the head of the delegation.

He gave the names of members of the squad as Marian Usman (+75kg), Balkisu Otunla (75kg) and Monica Umeh (48kg).

Others are Racheal Ekoshoria (58kg), Chinese Fidelis (58kg), Oluwatoyin Adesanmi (63kg) and Fatima Yakubu (53kg).

“These lifters are national champions in the weight categories and have gone beyond the shores of the country for international games, winning many medals.

“They defended their titles at the national trials that qualified them for selection to represent the country at the championships and l believe thay they have bright chances,” he said.

The NWF member said that the team was expected to clinch a ticket for 2016 Rio Olympics, stressing that the championships, organised by the African Weightlifting Federation would serve as Olympic qualifiers.

He expressed confidence that the lifters would be good ambassadors of the country and do the nation proud at the tournament.

NAN