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Nigeria moved to the top of the medals table with three golds in a row on a busy second day of weightlifting at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.

Rafiatu Lawal (NGR)

Malaysia added to its two victories on Sunday with another winner, Muhammad Erry, in the men’s 79kg evening session. A big crowd has roared Ajaya Babu from India into first place but Erry – who said he had been “very scared” when he needed his final snatch to avoid a bombout – made that one and all three clean and jerks for victory.

The 2022 champion Chris Murray finished third on his comeback from a long spell of injuries to claim England’s first medal.

Men’s 79kg podium

It was also a good day for the over-40s, three of whom lifted in one session, the women’s 53kg. One called an end to her career and the other two will be trying to qualify for the Los Angeles Olympic Games.

Nigeria has had three golds and a silver in the first two days, and Malaysia three golds and a bronze. The table could change on Tuesday when Canada, which won two medals on day two, has the favourite in all three medal events.

For Nigeria, Edidiong Umoafia won at 71kg, hanging on to his lead when John Tafi from Samoa twice failed to make the 178kg he needed for victory. 

Edidiong Umoafia (NGR) 

Umoafia then joined in the cheers from a noisy Nigerian contingent in the audience as Onome Didih claimed a sweep of Commonwealth records in winning at 53kg. Both champions stayed on to support Rafiatu Lawal, who made it three in a row at 58kg.

“I want to shout out to all my team-mates, all the coaches, everybody who has helped us to prepare for these Games,” Didih said after winning on 93-113-206.

“We all encourage each other, we love each other – nobody thinks they are better or more important than anybody else. We are all in this together, a very strong team.”

Didih, 22, and silver medallist Gyaneshwari Yadav from India both made all six attempts. Yadav finished 88-11-199 and Rebeka Groulx from Canada, up from 48kg, was third on 83-95-178.

Onome Didih (NGR)

Lawal also made all six attempts, finishing 103-126-229. Canada was on the podium again when Ann Sophie Taschereau made a career-best 94-121-215, and Bindyarani Devi from India was third on 87-112-199.

“Six good lifts and a gold medal – this was my best win,” said Lawal. “The support from the crowd was amazing, it really motivated me.”

Nigeria’s women have been formidable for a few years. “It’s true the girls have been stronger than us, and that has helped to motivate me. My win is for all the guys out there,” said Umoafia.

He built a 5kg lead in snatch and made 147-168-319. The snatch world record of 160kg is not beyond him, Umoafia said. “I have made 159 in training, I can do it.”

Men’s 71kg podium

Tafi made 142-172-314 and third place went to Ezekiel Moses on 140-170-310. Harrison McGrogan, the teenager who was hoping to become Northern Ireland’s first ever Commonwealth Games weightlifting medallist, ripped the skin on his right hand early in the contest and made only two good lifts in fifth place.

At 79kg Erry made 147-184-331, Babu 149-181-330 and Murray a five from six 148-177-325.

Muhammad Erry (MAS)

Murray had serious shoulder and elbow injuries, a torn hamstring, two quad tears and had suffered from glandular fever and shingles during his long spell out of competition.

Was it worth sticking with the long recovery process? “To win this medal, no, but in terms of the life lessons I learned, absolutely,” Murray said.

“I learned just how much I love weightlifting and now I’m in it full-time. I’ve got funding and that’s my life now.”

While there were plenty of youths and juniors in action throughout the four medal events, this was a special day for the older athletes – or, as one of them said, “the grandmas”.

Remarkably, of the 10 women in the 53kg session, three were aged over 40 – Johanni Taljaard from South Africa at 41, Dika Toua from Papua New Guinea at 42 and Jenly Wini from the Solomon Islands at 43.  

The ‘grandmas club’: Johanni Taljaard (RSA), Jenly Wini (SOL) and Dika Toua (PNG)

All three are mums – “but you can call us the grandmas” said Toua. Wini’s son, at 24, is older than all three medallists in his mother’s last ever international competition. She retired today, but the other two will be trying to qualify for the Los Angeles Olympic Games.

Winli’s final lift at her fifth Commonwealth Games was a good one, earning big cheers from the noisy crowd. She finished fifth on 74-98-172 and said, “That’s it for me. Now I’ll go into coaching.”

Women’s 53kg podium

Taljaard was one place higher and would have won a medal if she had made her final attempt on 101kg. Like her first clean and jerk, it got three red lights for bending and extending.

Having started in gymnastics before taking up CrossFit, Taljaard did not start weightlifting until her mid-30s and took a five-year break before returning in 2025 because of Covid and motherhood.

“I thought I was done but my friends said I should keep going,” she said. “I want to try an Olympic cycle so I’ll be at the World Championships in October.”

It was not a good day for Toua, who bombed out in snatch. But she has had bad days before and is not deterred.

Women’s 58kg podium

“Recovery gets harder as you get older but my mindset is the same,” she said. “It’s the mind that controls everything. I’m president of our federation and I see myself as a leader as well as an athlete. I want to keep encouraging the younger lifters.

“I reckon I can still win medals at the Pacific Games and I’ll be trying to qualify for Los Angeles. It’s weightlifting that makes me feel young and healthy, that keeps me going.”

By Brian Oliver

Photos by Giorgio Scala/Deepbluemedia