Esther Nworgu has won Team Nigeria’s first gold medal at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games after setting a new Games record in the Women’s Lightweight Para Powerlifting event.
Nworgu delivered a dominant performance, lifting 123kg to score 119 points and claim the title, while also breaking the Commonwealth Games record twice during the competition.
Her achievement marked Nigeria’s first gold medal of the Games and continued the country’s strong tradition in para powerlifting.
The Nigerian athlete was joined on the podium by compatriot Esther Oyema, who secured the silver medal to complete a remarkable one-two finish for Team Nigeria in the event.
Also Read: Lagos to host Commonwealth fencing championships
The result further highlighted Nigeria’s dominance in para powerlifting, with the country’s athletes once again making a strong impact on the Commonwealth Games stage.
Earlier, veteran para-powerlifter Roland Ezuruike won Nigeria’s first medal of the 2026 Games after claiming silver in the Men’s Lightweight Para Powerlifting event.
The 50-year-old finished with 153.9 points from two successful lifts, narrowly missing out on the gold medal after failing to complete his final attempt at a Commonwealth Games record 190kg lift.
Nworgu’s victory came shortly after Ezuruike’s silver-medal performance, giving Team Nigeria a strong start to its medal campaign in Glasgow and reinforcing the country’s reputation as a powerhouse in para powerlifting.
