Roland Ezuruike has won Team Nigeria’s first medal at the 2026 Commonwealth Games after claiming silver in the men’s Lightweight Group A para powerlifting event.
Ezuruike finished with 153.9 points from two successful lifts but narrowly missed out on the gold medal after failing in his final attempt to set a new Commonwealth Games record with a 190kg lift. England’s Mark Swan claimed the gold medal, while Malaysia’s Bonnie Bunyau Gustin finished third to take bronze.
The silver medal marks another major achievement for the veteran para powerlifter, who won gold in the same event at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia. Ezuruike is also a Paralympic champion, having claimed gold at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.
His podium finish handed Team Nigeria its first medal of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games as the country’s athletes continue their campaign across various events.
Hadizat Giwa