Roland Ezuruike ignited Team Nigeria’s medal campaign at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, powering his way to silver in the men’s Lightweight Group A Para Powerlifting event—the country’s first podium finish of the Games.
The seasoned para powerlifter delivered a composed performance with two successful lifts, amassing a total of 153.9 points.
He came within striking distance of gold, boldly attempting a Games-record 190kg on his final lift, but the weight proved just beyond his reach on the day.
England’s Mark Swan clinched the top spot with a winning effort, while Malaysia’s Bonnie Bunyau Gustin rounded out the podium with 153.5 points, narrowly edging out the Nigerian in the points standings.
Nigeria’s strength in the event was further underscored by Ibrahim Dauda, who finished an admirable fifth after lifting 140.1kg in a fiercely competitive field.
Earlier on Friday, the nation’s men’s 3×3 basketball team provided an additional boost, defeating the Cayman Islands 21-17 in their Pool A opener—a victory that builds early momentum as they set their sights on the knockout stages.
With Ezuruike’s silver now on the board, Nigeria looks to convert that early energy into a growing medal haul as competition intensifies in Glasgow.
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