August 04, (THEWILL) – In a harsh decision at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham on Thursday, two of Nigeria’s medal hopefuls in the para powerlifting category, Latifat Tijani and Onyinyechi Mark, were disqualified from the women’s lightweight final.
Their disqualification, which came as penalty for reporting late for kit check, left the two para powerlifters completely devastated, as they were unable to participate in the finals for which they qualified.
Prior to this, Nigeria had won every gold medal awarded in the event’s history at the Commonwealth Games. And, the disqualification of the duo means that for the first time in the Games, there will be a winner from a country that is not Nigeria.
However, Nigeria has immediately appealed the disqualification of the two athletes to the International Paralympic Committee.
