Nine Nigeria weightlifters have qualified for the 2022 Commonwealth Games weightlifting event holding in Birmingham, England in July, with the team made up of seven women and two men.
The qualification of the Nigerians was confirmed in the March 1, 2022 International Weightlifting Federation 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 fourth in the 64kg women category.
In other women categories, Joy Ogbonne Eze came second in 82kg, Taiwo Liadi fifth in 76kg, while Osijo Mary Taiwo was ranked fifth in 87kg women.
In the men category, Joseph Umofia Edidiong was ranked third in the 67kg, while his compatriot, Emmanuel Appah. was ranked fifth in 61kg.
Stellar Kingsley got a total of 168kg in (72 snatch and 96 jerk) to be placed second in 49kg women category and won gold at the Commonwealth Championship in Uzbekistan last year.
Olarinoye, who won a gold in 2021 Commonwealth Championship as well as silver and bronze in 2021 International Weightlifting Federation 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, Lawal was ranked first in the 59kg women category.
She achieved the feat in the 2021 Commonwealth Championship in Uzbekistan.
Yusuf won gold on February 2 at the 2022 Mauritius Open Championship with a 93kg snatch and 118 jerk lift, totalling 211k, leading to being ranked fourth in the 64kg women category.
In 82kg women category, Eze, who won gold at the 2021 Commonwealth Championship in Uzbekistan and a bronze in the 2021 IWF Championship, was ranked third 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, Liadi was ranked fifth 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, Mary Taiwo qualified for the 2022 Commonwealth Games with a total lift of 213kg to be placed fifth in the 87kg women category.
She had 95kg in snatch and 118kg in jerk.
Edidiong, silver medal winner at the 2021 Commonwealth Championship in Uzbekistan, was ranked third in the 67kg men category.
He had a lift of 135kg snatch and 160kg jerk totaling 295kg to qualify for the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham England.
Appah had a combined 255kg lift in 61kg men category to be ranked fifth 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, Birmingham, from July 30 to August 3, 2022.