Team Nigeria has won its first medal of the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow through Nkechi Opara who finished third in the 48kg category of the women’s weightlifting event.
Opara lifted a total weight of 162kg, lifting 70kg in the snatch and 92kg in the clean and jerk to finish third behind Indian duo Chanu Saikhom Mirabai and Khumukcham Sanjita Chanu.
Khumukcham lifted a total of 173kg to win gold while her compatriot Chanu Saikhom settled for silver after lifting a total of 170kg.
Tanimowo Rasaq of Nigeria however fell short of the medal places in the men’s 58kg weightlifting, lifting a total of 225kg which was 19kg off India’s Ganesh Mali’s total of 244kg to win bronze.
Bronze medalist Nkechi Okpara, right, on the podium with India’s silver medalist Mirabai Chanu Saikhom (L), India’s gold medalist Sanjita Chanu Khumukcham (C)
Mali finished a kilogram shy of Malaysia’s Zulhelmi Md Pisol who claimed silver while Suhken Dey of India won gold with a total lift of 248kg to bring India’s medal haul so far to seven.
England meanwhile lead the medal table after the first day of competition with six gold, six silver and four bronze medals while Australia follow in second place with four gold, three silver and seven bronze medals.
Host nation Scotland currently occupy third spot on the medal table with four gold, three silver and three bronze medals while India and Canada round off the top five of the table.
South Africa leads the Africa nations that have won a medal so far at the Games, sitting in ninth spot with two bronze medals; including a first ever medal in Judo, ahead of Ghana and Nigeria that each have one bronze medal so far.