Golden Night in Cairo: Rita Ferdinand Leads Nigeria’s Charge at the 2025 World Para Powerlifting Championships

Saturday night in Cairo, Egypt, will be one to remember for Nigeria’s Rita Ferdinand. Under the bright lights of the 2025 World Para Powerlifting Championships, she delivered a breathtaking performance, hoisting an incredible 153kg to win gold in the women’s up to 79kg category. Her triumph didn’t just secure her a world title it reaffirmed Nigeria’s unshakable dominance in para powerlifting.

But Ferdinand wasn’t the only Nigerian making waves on the opening day. Earlier, Esther Nworgu powered her way to a silver medal in the fiercely contested 50kg class, while Rukayat Opeyemi Ajiboye added a bronze in the same event. Both lifters put up strong, determined performances but were narrowly edged out by Venezuela’s Clara Fuentes, who claimed gold.

This year’s championship is particularly special it’s the 11th edition and, for the first time ever, being hosted on African soil. Running from October 9 to 18, the event symbolizes a historic milestone for adaptive sports across the continent, highlighting Africa’s growing influence on the global stage.

With three medals already in the bag, Team Nigeria has set a powerful tone for what’s shaping up to be a remarkable campaign. As the competition continues, all eyes are on the green and white ready to see how far these champions can push the limits of strength, resilience, and pride.