Sports
Olympic Qualifier: Lawal, Adijat Win 3 Gold, 3 Silver For Nigeria at AWC
Nigeria on Monday began her quest for 2024 Olympic Games qualification in grand style as Lawal Rufiatu and Olarinoye Adenike Adijat won 3 gold and 3 silver medals respectively at the ongoing 2023 Senior Africa Weightlifting Championship in Tunisia.
The championship also serves as the 2024 Olympics qualifier.
Competing in the 59kg women category, Rafiatu won three gold medals in Snatch, Clean and Jerk and Total while Adijat claimed all the three silver medals in the same category.
Lawal Rufiatu, 2022 Commonwealth Games gold medal winner in the category, lifted 95kilos in snatch, 122kilos in Clean & Jerk and 217kilos in total to win all the three gold medals in the category.
Olarinoye, 2022 Commonwealth Games gold medal winner in 55kg, claimed all the three silver medals with a lift of 93kilos in snatch,118kilos in Clean & Jerk and 211kilos in total as she continued her impressive s performances in the new category.
Olarinoye moved from 55kg in late 2022 to 59kg. In her first competition in the new category at the 2022 National Sports Festival, NSF, she won three silver medals.
Two Tunisians and a Moroccan shared the three bronze medals.
Nigeria will continue her quest for more medals in Tunis on Tuesday, May 16, as two lifters will be on stage as well. Joy Eze, (71kg women) and Edidiong Umofia (73kh men) will compete.
Nigeria’s 5th athlete, Akano Desmond (89kg men) will round off Nigeria’s participation in the championship on Wednesday, May 17.
Nigeria weightlifters will participate in six Championship qualifiers as they seek to return Nigeria to global weightlifting map in the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France.
The 2023 Africa Weightlifting Championship which commenced on May 11 will end on Friday May 19th.
Sports
No crisis in NAWIS ahead of AFN elections on Monday
Joel Ajayi
The Association of Nigerian Women in Sports (NAWIS), known for its orderliness since its establishment in 1990, continues to uphold its standards ahead of the upcoming Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) elections.
With members across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, NAWIS has consistently operated without external interference.
Over the years, its members have been nominated to various boards of national sports federations after meeting established criteria, including the payment of annual dues.
The association has attracted a strong base of respected sportswomen who have served the country with distinction, both during and after their active careers.
In preparation for the AFN elections, zonal elections were conducted on June 2 and 3, producing representatives for the national exercise.
While NAWIS initially planned to hold its election in Zaria, Kaduna State, the association’s headquarters, it was later rescheduled for Abuja on Monday, June 9, following directives from higher authorities.
Importantly, NAWIS has a set of strict guidelines that govern its electoral process, particularly the requirement for timely payment of annual dues. Failure to meet this condition results in automatic disqualification.
This guideline was the basis for the disqualification of Maria Wophil, who has reportedly not paid her annual dues since 2017. Her attempt to hurriedly settle outstanding debts just before the election was deemed non-compliant with NAWIS regulations.
Who is Fatima Yusuf-Olukoju?
Commonwealth gold medallist Fatima Yusuf-Olukoju is one of the leading contenders for the NAWIS representative position in the AFN.
She made history as the first African woman to run the 400m in under 50 seconds and brought glory to Nigeria by winning a silver medal in the 4x400m relay at the Atlanta 1996 Olympics.
Yusuf-Olukoju also claimed gold in the 400m at the 1991 All-Africa Games and silver in the 200m.
Based on nominations and her track record, Yusuf-Olukoju is considered the most qualified candidate. However, three other contenders have also shown interest, and the final decision will be made in the election slated for Monday, June 9, in Abuja.
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