Glasgow 2026 Day 6: Team Nigeria Athletics Deliver Gold, Silver, World Record, Promises as Boxing Campaign Ends Without a Medal
Team Nigeria enjoyed another productive outing on Day Six of the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, adding one gold and one silver medal to its growing tally, setting a new world record, and recording several encouraging performances in athletics despite the disappointment of an unsuccessful boxing campaign.
The highlight of the day came from Goodness Nwachukwu, who delivered a sensational performance to win gold in the women’s Para Discus F42-44/F61-64 event.
The Nigerian star produced a remarkable final throw of 39.66m, smashing her own F42 world record by more than three metres to clinch the Commonwealth title.
Nwachukwu finished ahead of Wales’ Funmi Oduwaiye (38.52m) and Australia’s Bree Cronin (36.00m), while fellow Nigerian Destiny Agbo placed fifth with a best effort of 33.79m.
Nigeria’s second medal of the day came through Jessica Oji, who announced herself on the international stage with a silver medal in the women’s shot put.
The 19-year-old recorded a personal best throw of 17.87m, becoming the first Nigerian woman to win a Commonwealth Games shot put medal since Vivian Chukwuemeka achieved the feat at the 2006 Melbourne Games.
On the track, Ezekiel Nathaniel strengthened his credentials for gold after winning Heat Two of the men’s 400m hurdles in 48.69 seconds, the fastest qualifying time heading into the final.
England’s Jake Minshull (48.88s) and India’s Santhosh Tamilarasan (49.51s) followed him across the line.
In the men’s 200m, Udodi Onwuzurike booked his place in the semifinals after comfortably winning his heat in 20.31 seconds, while Alaba Akintola narrowly missed qualification after finishing third in his heat with 20.96 seconds.
Nigeria also had a successful outing in the women’s 200m.
Jennifer Chukwuka Obi stormed to victory in her heat in a new personal best of 23.26 seconds to qualify for the semifinals, while Olayinka Olajide progressed after placing third in her heat with 23.62 seconds on her Commonwealth Games debut.
In the men’s shot put qualification,
Chukwuebuka Enekwechi required only one attempt to secure automatic qualification for the final, throwing 20.03m.
Weightlifter Mary Osijo narrowly missed the podium in the women’s 86kg category, finishing fifth with a combined lift of 225kg, comprising 100kg in the snatch and 125kg in the clean and jerk.
However, it was disappointment for Nigeria’s boxing team as Blessing Orakwe, the country’s final medal hopeful, suffered a narrow 3-2 split-decision defeat to Australia’s Lekeisha Pergoliti in the women’s 70kg quarter-finals.
Orakwe’s defeat confirmed a disappointing campaign for Team Nigeria’s boxers, with all six representatives eliminated without reaching the medal podium.
With another gold and silver added to the medal haul, a world record broken, and several athletes advancing to medal rounds, Team Nigeria remains firmly on course for a strong finish as the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games enter their closing stages.
