Paris 2024: Esther Nworgu wins silver, Nigeria's second Paralympic medal

Esther Nworgu has recorded Nigeria's second medal at the ongoing Paralympic Games in Paris, securing a silver medal in the women's 41kg Para-Powerlifting event.

Nworgu set two new Paralympic Records in her final two attempts, lifting an impressive 112kg and 118kg respectively.

Although she was narrowly edged out by China's Zhe Cui, who lifted a new Paralympic Record of 119kg to claim the gold medal, Nworgu's efforts have solidified Nigeria's position in the medal standings.

The journey to the silver medal was a tense one as Nworgu started with a 106kg lift, placing her second behind Cui, who began with 108kg.

In her second lift, Nworgu successfully lifted 112kg, while Cui extended her lead with a 113kg lift. The final round saw Nworgu achieve her best lift of 118kg, securing her second-place finish. Brazil's Lara de Lima took the bronze with a lift of 109kg.

Meanwhile, Pulse Sports reported that Eniola Bolaji had previously set the tone for Nigeria's Paralympic success by winning the country's first medal in Paris on Monday.

She defeated her Ukrainian opponent, Oksana Kozyna, in straight sets 2-0 (21-9, 21-9) to claim a bronze medal in Badminton. Her historic victory marked the first time an African won a medal in Badminton at either the Olympic or Paralympic Games.

As the Paralympic Games continue, Nigeria's team is determined to add more medals to their tally. The country's best performance was at the Tokyo Paralympic Games, where they won 10 medals (including four gold).