Members of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) Oyo State Chapter clinked glasses and took to the dance floor on the news of Nigerian weightlifter, Rofiat Afolashade Lawal, who won the Team Nigeria’s second gold medal at the ongoing Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, United Kingdom.
The Tabloid.net gathered that Lawal, a product of the Oyo State Sports Council, on July 31, 2022, won a gold medal in 59kg women category after lifting 206kg, comprising 116kg clean and jerk and 90kg snatch. She also set a new Commonwealth Games record in the class.
In a congratulatory message signed by the State Chairman, Niyi Alebiosu and Secretary, Adewale Tijani, the SWAN applauded the exploits of the 26-year old and also noted that her feats in Birmingham were not a surprise given her recent history.
“Rofiat Lawal’s excellent performance at the ongoing Commonwealth Games is not unexpected, given the fact that she has always been exceptional in all the national and international competitions in which she participated”, the body stated.
The Sports journalists recalled that the athlete had earlier won three gold medals in 2019 All African Games in Morocco and similarly won another three gold medals at the National Sports Festival held in Edo State in 2020.
While showering encomiums on the athlete, the association also enjoined her to continue to set the pace for other athletes.
The SWAN also congratulated the sports-loving Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and Minister of Youths and Sports, Chief Sunday Dare for “the splendid performance being recorded by athletes from Oyo State, saying this development is the end result of their investments into sports and youths programmes in the state.”
“Oyo SWAN recalled with pleasure that Governor Makinde recently carried out a turn around of all major stadia in the state, including Lekan Salami stadium in Ibadan and Soun Township Stadium in Ogbomoso while the Sports Minister single handedly constructed a Sports Centre for Youths in Ogbomoso and initiated a national programme ‘Adopt An Athlete’ which ensured that Nigerian athletes are well taken off, the statement noted.
The association tasked Governor Makinde and Chief Dare to continue to implement laudable sports programmes that will produce more glorious athletes like Rofiat Lawal and Yakubu Adesokan.
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