Stephen Dunmoye
Nigerian Weightlifters, Rafiatu Lawal has said she’s in high spirit and turbo charged to ensure Nigeria ranks among the best in the Women’s 59kg at the ongoing Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Lawal told NWF Media that she hopes to make the most of her Olympics debut and that she’s ready to give her all in her determined zeal to make a lasting impression in Paris in all her lifts.
According to her, “I have prepared very well for this and eager to give my best in Paris, France. The Nigeria Weightlifting Federation under the able leadership of Dr. Ibrahim Abdul started a good job camping us before the Ministry of Sports took over and it is my personal wish to do my best in the competition.
“It is my Olympic Games debut but I am not greenhorn because I have taken part in many competitions that have equipped me for moments like this. I am going to the competition with the high hopes of giving my all to defend my fatherland.”
The President of Nigeria Weightlifting Federation (NWF), Dr. Ibrahim Abdul charged Lawal to imbibe Nigeria’s ‘I can do’ spirit while also charging her to recall the techniques that have worked for her in her preparations for the Olympic Games.
The NWF President urged her to go all out and aspire to finish in the medal zone.
He said the NWF is solidly behind her and beckoned on her to mark her Olympics debut with the performance that would be the talking point for years to come.
“We in the NWF know what Rafiatu can do and we are solidly behind her as she compete in the Women’s 59kg on Thursday. We have prepared her and her second for the Olympic Games in the best way possible and we expect her to give a good account of herself in Paris, France,” the NWF President said.
Dr. Abdul urged Nigerians to support both weightlifters especially Rafiatu Lawal who compete first on Thursday afternoon.
The Weightlifter will be up against reigning Olympic champion in the weight class, 30-year-old Chinese Taipel’s Chun Hsing Kuo. Kuo also won a bronze medal at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
Shifang Luo of China who at just 23 years is the current World Record Holder in the weight class with a lift of 248kg is another strong competitor against the Nigerian. She’s making her Olympics debut and has come with so much promise while another 2021 Olympic Games Gold medallist in the Women’s 64kg, Charron Maude of Canada is another lifter to be on the lookout for.
Others to compete against Lawal are Ann Elreen Ando (Philippines), Anyelin Venegas (Venezuela), Lucrezia Magistris (Italy), Yenny Alvarez (Colombia), Mathlynn Sasser (Marshall Islands), Kamila Konotop (Ukraine), Dora Tchakoute (France), and Mexican’s Valdivia Gomez.