Team Nigeria has opened its medal account at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, with Paralympic champion Roland Ezuruike powering to a silver medal in the Men’s Lightweight Para Powerlifting competition at the SEC Armadillo.
Ezuruike lifted an impressive 153.9kg, matching the effort of England’s Mark Swan, who was awarded the gold medal on countback, while Malaysia’s Bonnie Bunyau Gustin claimed bronze with a lift of 153.5kg.
The silver medal gives Nigeria its first place on the medals table and provides an early boost to the country’s campaign as Team Nigeria pursues the National Sports Commission’s target of 16 to 20 gold medals.
Fellow Nigerian Ibrahim Dauda also produced a commendable performance, lifting 140.1kg to finish fifth in the highly competitive event.
Earlier in the competition, Finlay Davidson of Scotland topped Group B with 141.4kg, but the medal positions were decided after the stronger Group A athletes completed their attempts.
Speaking after winning Nigeria’s first medal of the Games, Ezuruike expressed pride in contributing to the country’s campaign while setting his sights on even greater achievements.
“I’m grateful to have won Nigeria’s first medal at these Games. Every time I step onto the platform, my goal is to make my country proud. Of course, every athlete wants gold, but this silver is a good way for us to begin, and I believe more medals will follow for Team Nigeria,” he said.
Sports247, reporting from Glasgow, observed an emotional Ezuruike acknowledge the cheers from Nigerian supporters after his final lift, with teammates and officials applauding a performance that once again demonstrated Nigeria’s pedigree in para powerlifting.
It has already been an encouraging opening day for Team Nigeria. Before Ezuruike’s podium finish, the men’s 3×3 Basketball team defeated the Cayman Islands 21–17 in their opening Pool A fixture, while swimmer Clinton Opute launched Nigeria’s swimming campaign in the Men’s 200m Individual Medley.
Nigeria arrived in Glasgow with a delegation of 74 athletes competing in 10 sports and an impressive Commonwealth Games record of 271 medals—82 gold, 84 silver and 105 bronze. Ezuruike’s silver is the first addition to that tally at Glasgow 2026, with many more medal opportunities still to come.
Men’s Lightweight Para Powerlifting Results
Mark Swan (England) – 153.9kg (Gold on countback)
Roland Ezuruike (Nigeria) – 153.9kg
Bonnie Bunyau Gustin (Malaysia) – 153.5kg
