Two Nigerian women’s weightlifters, Rafiatu Folashade Lawal and Joy Ogbonne Eze have qualified for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in their weight classes after the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) recently ratified their qualifications.
Rafiatu Lawal (women’s 59 kg) and Joy Eze (women’s 71 kg) secured two of the top ten slots in their weight divisions based on the International Weightlifting Federation’s (IWF) Olympic qualification ranking finals.
In a press statement sent to the Nigeria Olympic Committee jointly signed by the IWF President, Mohammed Jaloud and General Secretary, Antonio Urso and made available to the President, Nigeria Weightlifting Federation (NWF), Dr. Ibrahim Abdul, the world weightlifting governing body wrote that it is delighted to inform the NOC that Lawal in the Women 59kg and Eze in the Women 71kg have both obtained the individual quotas enough to take part in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
“In accordance with the IOC- IWF Qualification System for the Games, of the 33th Olympiad- Paris 2024, we are pleased to inform that your National Olympic Committee (NOC) has obtained the following individual Quotas in weightlifting:
“Lawal Rafiatu Folashade in the Women’s 59 kg and Eze Joy Ogbonne in the women’s 71kg. We note that in accordance with the Olympic Qualification System as per Consequences due to Anti- Doping Rule Violations the independent panel may withdraw some of or all the quota places.”
Reacting to the development, the President, NWF, Dr. Ibrahim Abdul praised the hard work of both weightlifters and assures them of adequate preparations for the Olympic Games.
He said the NWF in conjunction with the NOC and the Ministry of Sports will ensure both Rafiatu Folashade Lawal and Joy Eze do not lack anything during their preparations to ensure they give Nigeria a good representation in Paris.
“We have gone through all the pathways for the Olympics, and we have qualified two athletes. He said we are currently in camp and training,” an excited Abdul told NWF Media.
He explained that the two athletes would also participate in the two-week camp in Paris before the Olympics commenced.
“The African weightlifting associations have also organised camps for all African athletes who qualified for the Olympic Games from July 12 to July 25 in France.
“We also want to align with that of the ministry but currently we are in camp and everything is going well.
“We are going to have a training camp abroad; that’s with our African body training camp,” he said.
