In a groundbreaking achievement for Nigerian sports, Elizabeth Mausi Zannu has etched her name in history books by clinching the gold medal in arm wrestling at the 13th African Games. Her remarkable victory marks a significant milestone, as she becomes the first athlete to achieve this feat in the history of the African Games.
Elizabeth‘s path to victory unfolded interestingly at the 13th African Games, held in Ghana. Competing in the 55kg left-hand senior women’s event against remarkable African opponents, Elizabeth showcased unparalleled strength and technique, defeating her Ghanian counterpart, Rachael Lankai.
Her historic win at the inaugural arm wrestling competition is a testament to the commendable performance of the Nigerian arm wrestling team, who have collectively won two gold and four bronze medals.
Read: Edidiong Joseph Wins not One but Three Gold Medals at the 13th African Games
Among the notable medalists was Winifred Ndidi, who claimed bronze in the women’s 80kg left-hand category, showcasing Nigeria’s prowess across different weight divisions.
Idowu Abiodun Yunusa added to Nigeria’s medal tally with another bronze in the fiercely competitive men’s 65kg left-hand event. In comparison, Sarah Mathew outclassed her opponents to seize the gold medal in the women’s 70kg left-hand category, adding to the nation’s glory on the arm wrestling stage.
Not to be outdone, Blessing Ogungbure clinched a bronze medal in the women’s 70kg. Samuel Nneka showcased his strength and skill to earn bronze in the highly competitive men’s 85kg left-hand category, further solidifying Nigeria’s position as a dominant force in African arm wrestling.
One week into the 13th African Games, Nigeria currently stands in second place behind Egypt with 60 medals—23 gold, 16 silver, and 21 bronze.