King Kalu of Cross River State and Esther Amarachi Chijoke of the Invited Junior Athletes (IJA) were the standout performers on Day One of the Weightlifting event at the ongoing Ogun 2024 National Sports Festival, collectively securing five gold medals for their states.
In the Men’s 55kg category, Kalu claimed three gold medals for Cross River State with a total lift of 215kg, achieved with a snatch of 94kg and a Clean & Jerk of 121kg.
Elechi Nnadozie Elvis from Bayelsa State won a silver medal in the snatch, lifting 93kg, while Abayomi Adeleye of Ekiti State took home the bronze with a snatch lift of 92kg.
Tobi Ishola from Oyo secured a silver in the Clean & Jerk with a lift of 118kg and also earned bronze in the total with a cumulative lift of 206kg.
Representing Bayelsa State, John Solomon won a bronze in the Clean & Jerk with a lift of 117kg and achieved silver in the total with a lift of 207kg.
In the women’s 45kg category, Esther Amarachi Chijoke of IJA captured two gold medals in the Clean & Jerk and the total with lifts of 82kg and 146kg, respectively. She also added a silver medal in the snatch with a lift of 64kg.
Ronke Olarinoye from Lagos finished second overall in the women’s 45kg division, securing gold in the snatch with a lift of 65kg and bronze in the total with 140kg.
Christiana Alloma from Rivers State earned two silver medals and a bronze, lifting 61kg for bronze in the snatch, while achieving silver in the Clean & Jerk (81kg) and total (142kg).
