Joel Ajayi

Nine Nigeria weightlifters have qualified for the 2022 Commonwealth Games weightlifting event holding in Birmingham, England in July

The nine lifters are made up of 7 women and 2 men.

Their qualifications were confirmed in the March 1st, 2022 International Weightlifting Federation, IWF Ranking.

In the ranking released, Adịjat Adenike Olarinoye was ranked first in the 55kg women category while Stellar Peter Kingsley was ranked second in the 49kg women category

Rafiatu Folashade Lawal was ranked first in the 59kg women category while Islamiyat Adebukdu Yusuf was ranked 4th in 

64kg women category

In other women categories, Joy Ogbonne Eze came second in 82kg, Taiwo Liadi 5th, in 

76kg while Osijo Mary Taiwo was ranked 5th in 

87kg women 

In the men category, Joseph Umofia Edidiong was ranked 3rd in the 67kg while his compatriot, Emmanuel Appah was ranked 5th in 61kg.

Stellar Kingsley got a total of 168kg in (72 snatch and 96 jerk) to be placed second in 49kg womem category and won gold at the Commonwealth Championship in Uzbekistan last year.

Adịjat Adenike Olarinoye, who won a gold in 2021 Commonwealth Championship as well as silver and bronze in 2021 International Weightlifting Federation, NWF Championship in Uzbekistan in December was ranked first in the 55kg women category. 

She lifted 90kg snatch and 113 jerk making a total of 203kg to be placed top. 

Lifting a combined sum of 207kg with 92kg snatch, 115 jerk, Rafiatu Folashade Lawal, was ranked first in the 59kg women category. She achieved the feat in the 2021 Commonwealth Championship in Uzbekistan.

Islamiyat Adebukdu Yusuf won gold on February 2 at the 2022 Mauritius Open Championship with a 93kg snatch and 118 jerk lift totalling 211k was ranked 4th in the 64kg women category

In 82kg women category, Joy Ogbonne Eze who who gold at the 2021 Commonwealth Championship in Uzbekistan, and a bronze in the 2021 IWF Championship was ranked 3rd with 230kg lift. She had lifted 100kg snatch and 130 jerk for her second-place finish in the latest IWF ranking

With a total of 210kg lift comprising 95kg snatch and 115 jerk, Taiwo Liadi was ranked 5th in the 76kg women category. She achieved the record at the IWF Championship in Uzbekistan December last year 

With a gold medal on her neck at the 2022 Mauritius Open Championship, Osijo Mary Taiwo qualified for the 2022 Commonwealth Games with a total lift of 213kg to be placed 5th in the 87kg women category.

She had 95kg in snatch and 118kg in jerk

Joseph Umofia Edidiong, silver medal winner at the 2021 Commonwealth Championship in Uzbekistan was ranked 3rd in the 67kg men category. He had a lift of 135kg snatch and 160kg jerk totalling 295kg to qualify for the Commonwealth Games in Bermignham England.

Emmanuel Appah had a combined 255kg lift in 61kg men category to be ranked 5th and also qualified for the Games in July. 

He had 115kg in snatch and 140kg in jerk during the 2021 Commonwealth Championship in Uzbekistan

The 2022 Commonwealth Games Weightlifting Event will hold at the National Exhibition Centre, Bermignham, from 30 July to 3 August 2022.