Islamiyat Yusuf and Sarah Matthew power Nigeria to multiple gold medals at the 2025 Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships in Ahmedabad, India.
Nigeria’s weightlifters extended their dominance at the ongoing 2025 Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships in Ahmedabad, India, delivering a stellar performance on Thursday, August 28, that produced three gold medals and a bronze.
Leading the medal rush was Islamiyat Yusuf, who delivered a flawless display in the women’s 69kg category. Yusuf outclassed her rivals with a 105kg snatch and a 131kg clean and jerk, posting a combined 236kg to clinch gold in commanding fashion.
Sarah Matthew also stole the spotlight in the women’s 77kg division, winning double gold after topping both the junior and senior categories. The rising star recorded lifts of 108kg (snatch) and 128kg (clean and jerk), also totaling 236kg, to secure her place as one of Nigeria’s brightest prospects.
In the men’s 79kg class, Adedapo Adeleke Opadeji fought hard to earn bronze, finishing behind India’s Ajaya Babu (gold) and Malaysia’s Muhammad Erry Hidayat (silver).
The wins added to Nigeria’s success earlier in the week. On Wednesday, Joseph Edidiong Umoafia, the reigning African Games champion, settled for silver in the men’s 71kg after lifting 316kg, narrowly missing gold by a single kilogram. Meanwhile, Ruth Imoleayo Ayodele claimed bronze in the women’s 63kg, with a total of 212kg.
Nigeria’s opening-day campaign had also been fruitful, with Ruth Asuquo Nyong taking silver and Omolola Onome striking gold on Tuesday.
So far, Team Nigeria has amassed four gold, two silver, and two bronze medals at the 30th edition of the championships, with more athletes yet to compete.
The country’s impressive showing has further cemented its growing reputation as a force in global weightlifting.
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