Commonwealth Games: Didih smashes three records to win Nigeria’s fifth gold

Nigeria's Onome Didih dominated the women's 53kg weightlifting competition at the Commonwealth Games, smashing three records to secure the nation's fifth gold medal.

Didih delivered a record-breaking performance across all three stages of the event. She began by lifting 93kg in the snatch, establishing a new Games and Commonwealth record. She further extended her lead with a successful 113kg lift in the clean and jerk. Her combined total of 206kg also set a new Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth record, placing her comfortably ahead of the competition.

India's Gyaneshwari Yadav secured the silver medal with a total lift of 199kg, while Canada's Rebeka Groulx took bronze with 178kg. Didih's triumph followed closely behind Edidiong Joseph Umoafia's gold medal win in the men's 71kg weightlifting event, which marked Nigeria's fourth gold.

Umoafia also achieved a Commonwealth Games record with a combined lift of 319kg, comprising 147kg in the snatch and 172kg in the clean and jerk. Joseph Tafi of Samoa earned silver with 314kg, and Elgin Moses of Nauru claimed bronze with 310kg. These consecutive weightlifting victories significantly bolster Nigeria's medal count in Glasgow.

The Nigerian contingent's success in weightlifting builds upon the country's strong tradition in the sport. Earlier, Esther Nworgu had claimed Nigeria's first gold medal in the women's lightweight para powerlifting event, also setting a new Commonwealth Games record with 119.0 points. The National Sports Commission has increased the reward for gold medalists to $10,000, split between instant cash and a bank deposit. Director-General Bukola Olopade had also reportedly promised Didih an additional $2,000 as part of a motivation initiative.