GLASGOW — Team Nigeria’s golden stranglehold on Commonwealth para powerlifting tightened further on Friday night at the SEC Armadillo, as Riluwan Idris produced a masterclass of strength to secure the country’s third gold medal of the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
Competing in the men’s heavyweight division at a body weight of just 86kg, Idris delivered a breathtaking 208kg second-round lift to out-muscle a stellar international field. His total amassed a winning score of 132.8 points, sealing an unforgettable triumph for the West African powerhouse.
The victory did not come easy in a tense, high-stakes battle for the podium. England’s Matthew Harding applied intense pressure throughout the event, successfully hoisting 199kg to finish close behind with 131.0 points for the silver medal. Malaysia’s Nicodemus Manggoi Moses rounded out the top three, claiming bronze with 120.3 points.
Idris’s gritty performance capped off a phenomenal opening day for Team Nigeria in Glasgow. The contingent’s total medal haul surged to six—all coming from a dominant showing in the para powerlifting arena, which included world record-breaking heroics earlier in the day from stars like Folashade Oluwafemiayo and Rita Ferdinand.
As celebrations erupted among coaches and travelling supporters inside the venue, Idris’s triumph firmly reaffirmed Nigeria’s status as the undisputed benchmark of Commonwealth para-athletics.
Do you want to advertise with us?
Do you need publicity for a product, service, or event?
Contact us on WhatsApp +2348033617468, +234 816 612 1513, +234 703 010 7174
or Email: validviewnetwork@gmail.com
CLICK TO JOIN OUR WHATSAPP GROUP
