Onyekwere with the feat, makes history, as she becomes the first Nigerian woman to win a gold medal in Discus throw in the Commonwealth Games
By Kehinde Okeowo
Nigeria’s field queen, Chioma Onyekwere has won the gold medal in the women’s Discus in the ongoing Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, United Kingdom.
The reigning African Games and African Championships champion, saved her best for the last major competition of the year to make the historic win.
The 28-year-old Onyekewere had a 61.70m throw in her fourth attempt to take the lead from the home girl, Jade Lally who led from the start of the competition with her opening throw of 57.33m.
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The Nigerian knew she needed more than the 58.19m she threw to win the African Championships gold last June in Mauritius, given the stiff competition she faced.
She later had a foul attempt in the third throw before swinging a personal season’s best mark of 61.70m, her second best career mark after the 63.30m she threw last year at the CVEATC, Chula Vista in California, USA.
England’s Jade Lally came second with a throw of 68.42m while another Nigerian, Obiageri Amaechi, won the bronze medal with her 56.99m fifth-round effort.
With the feat, Onyekwere has now become the second Nigerian after Adewale Olukoju to win the Discus Throw title for Nigeria in the history of the championships.
Nigeria made history by producing two medallists in the Discus Throw event of the Commonwealth Games for the first time.