Glasgow 2026: Riluwan Idris Wins Gold as Nigeria Finishes Events Opening Day With Six Medals in Para powerlifting, Second on Overall Medal Table
Team Nigeria rounded off a sensational opening day at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow with another gold medal as Riluwan Idris emerged champion in the men’s heavyweight para powerlifting event, helping Nigeria finish Day One with an impressive haul of six medals and second place on the overall medals table.
Idris produced a commanding performance, lifting 208kg to secure the gold medal and cap a remarkable day for Nigeria’s para powerlifting team.
He also attempted to set a new Commonwealth Games record with 212kg, but was unable to complete the lift.
Ghana’s Tahiru Haruna later attempted to surpass the mark by going for 218kg, but also failed, missing out on both the Games record and a place on the podium as he finished fifth.
Nigeria ended the opening day with three gold medals and three silver medals, with every medal coming from para powerlifting.
The outstanding performance placed Team Nigeria second on the overall medals table, behind Australia, which leads with six gold medals.
The six-medal haul was powered by a series of record-breaking performances.
Esther Nworgu claimed Nigeria’s first gold medal of the Games in the women’s lightweight category after breaking the Commonwealth Games record twice.
Team captain Folashade Oluwafemiayo delivered one of the performances of the day by breaking her own world record twice before setting a new global mark of 175kg to win the women’s heavyweight title.
Her teammate Rita Ferdinand settled for silver after also setting a new world record of 158kg earlier in the competition.
Nigeria’s medal tally was completed by Roland Ezuruike, who won silver in the men’s lightweight event after narrowly missing out on gold on coefficient points, and Esther Oyema, who earned silver to complete a Nigerian one-two finish in the women’s lightweight category.
Nigeria’s Day One Medal Winners
🥇 Esther Nworgu – Women’s Lightweight
🥈 Esther Oyema – Women’s Lightweight
🥈 Roland Ezuruike – Men’s Lightweight
🥇 Folashade Oluwafemiayo – Women’s Heavyweight (World Record – 175kg)
🥈 Rita Ferdinand – Women’s Heavyweight (World Record – 158kg)
🥇 Riluwan Idris – Men’s Heavyweight
After Day One, Australia tops the medal standings with 13 medals (6 gold, 2 silver, 5 bronze), while Nigeria sits in second place with six medals (3 gold and 3 silver), ahead of hosts Scotland.
The impressive start has positioned Team Nigeria as one of the standout nations of the opening day in Glasgow.
