C’wealth Games gold medalists demand audience with Buhari
The new women’s Para Powerlifting world record holder Esther Oyema and Commonwealth Games gold medalist Rowland Ezuruike say they want an audience with President Muhammadu Buhari after winning gold on Day 6 of the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast yesterday.
Oyema who lifted 131kg in the women’s lightweight final to set a new world record said that meeting President Buhari will be a dream come true.
“I feel so excited because it was like a film to me. I was anxious about winning gold at the Commonwealth Games because after the Paralympic Games in Rio, I went to rest. I had to start the process of cutting down on my body weight because I was already in the heavyweight class and I knew I needed a lot of hard work to shed about 10kg. My coach Pat Ibite encouraged me so I started training for it. If I didn’t work on my body weight, I wouldn’t have set a new World record today.
“Today I have made sacrifices to make my country proud. I have won gold and set a third world record. I will like to meet President Muhammadu Buhari and I want him to make us proud too,” Oyema said.
She noted that one of the greatest challenges of physically challenged athletes was lack of recognition despite setting World records and called on the President to pat them on the back accordingly.
Similarly, gold medalist in the men’s lightweight class Rowland Obumneke Ezurike expressed happiness not only for winning the gold medal but for beating his friend and world record holder Paul Kehinde.
“It’s an honour for me to beat a world champion. He is one of the greatest in Powerlifting. He beat me in the last Commonwealth Games and I defeated him in this year’s. I’m happy not just because of the gold medal but the person I beat.”
Ezurike expressed optimism that they will be received this time around following their success at the Games.