Esther Nworgu wins Nigeria's first gold medal at Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games
via Punch Nigeria7 min read
Esther Nworgu secured Team Nigeria's inaugural gold medal at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games in the women's para powerlifting lightweight category. The 24-year-old athlete twice broke the Games record, first with a lift of 118kg for 114.1 points, and then improved her own record to 123kg, scoring 119 points to clinch the gold. Following her victory, Nworgu received a total cash reward of $10,000, comprising an immediate $5,000 at the venue and an additional $5,000 deposited into her account, in line with the National Sports Commission's athlete welfare policy. Her achievement marked a strong beginning for Team Nigeria's para powerlifting campaign.
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Esther Oyema and Roland Ezuruike each won silver medals in para powerlifting on the opening day of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. Oyema, 44, finished second in the women鈥檚 lightweight category, behind fellow Nigerian Esther Nworgu, with a successful lift of 125kg and 115.5 points. Ezuruike secured Nigeria鈥檚 first medal of the Games, claiming silver in the Men鈥檚 Lightweight Group A category with 153.9 points. Both athletes benefited from the National Sports Commission鈥檚 enhanced performance-based reward policy, with Oyema receiving $5,000 and Ezuruike $4,000 in cash rewards and bonuses.