Team Nigeria bagged their first medal at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland on Thursday when 18-year old Nkechi Opara finished the women’s weightlifting 48kg contest with a bronze medal.
India’s Sanjita Khumukcham won gold, while her compatriot Mirabai Saikhom took the silver.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s table tennis teams on Thursday began their campaign in the team events on a good note at the Games.
The women began their road to the podium when the trio of Edem Offiong, Ganiat and Rashidat Ogundele overcame their Kenyan counterparts in a one-sided encounter with the Nigerians recording a 3-0 win.
The men’s team, led by veteran Segun Toriola, African champion Aruna Quadri and Ojo Onaolapo also walloped Bangladesh 3-0 in their first Group D match.
But the women later lost to India 3-1 as the duo of Madhurika Patkar and Shamini Kumaresan thrashed Cecilia Akpan and Offiong in the women’s doubles.
Olufunke Oshonaike recorded the only victory against the Indians when she beat 19-year old Manika Batra 3-1 in Match 2.
Kumaresan had started the game, beating Edem 3-1 in Match 1 before Batra later beat Akpan 3-0 in Match 4 to seal victory for the Indians on Thursday