Tag: Ejike

Powerlifting continued to increase Nigeria’s medal haul at the ongoing Rio 2016 Paralympic Games in Brazil as Lucy Ejike set a new world and Paralympic record after lifting 142kg in the women’s -61kg.

Just like she did when she was competing in the 48kg where she set records at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, the Nigerian set the new record with the 142kg.

Ejike beat Egypt’s Fatma Omar and China’s Yan Yang to the gold medal with the Egyptian lifting 140kg while the Chinese lifted 128kg to settle for silver and bronze medals respectively.

With this performance, Ejike, who is making her sixth appearances at the Paralymic Games since she debuted at Sydney 2000, has again earned another feat with the gold medal to increase her gold medal hauls at the Paralympic Games to three having won  gold medals at Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 while she claimed silver medals at Sydney 2000 and London 2012.

It was Roland Ezuruike that started the gold medal haul when he won a gold medal in the men’s -54kg after Kehinde Tijani won Team Nigeria’s first medal with a silver medal in the women’s -45kg.

On Saturday, Paul Kehinde added to the gold medal haul with a gold medal in the men’s -65kg, while Esther Oyema settled for the silver medal in the women’s -55kg.

•Says I’ve not set goals’ target

Glo Premier League’s leading scorer, Heartland FC’s Bright Ejike returned to action to net his 11th goal of the season in their 4-0 dismantling of Wikki Tourists after a spell in the treatment room. Ejike however insists in an interview with www.npfl.ng, that he has not set any goals target for himself this season. The former U-20 International has so far netted 10 times in 18 matches but confessed that his desire is to score in every match he plays for the Owerri side.

“I am not setting any target for myself in terms of goals I hope to score this season. I am only focused on giving my best to the team. The only target I have for myself, is to ensure that I score at least one goal in every match I play for the club,” declared Ejike.

Ejike dismissed talks that he is under pressure, having been forced to play out of his preferred supportive striking role. “No one has put me under any sort of pressure, I put the pressure on myself by wanting to do more and score as many goals as I can per match. I am very relaxed at the moment and in the best frame of mind. I can play anywhere I am asked to play by the coach, either as the lead striker or behind the main striker,” he stressed.

On the return of Emeka Ogbugh to the squad, the former Enyimba forward said he is confident, the striker’s return will add quality to the team’s front line and boost their quest to secure continental football this season.

“Ogbugh’s return will add beauty to the team going forward. He has been out for the past weeks and we still managed to score quality goals. Now that he is back, we hope to do more,” Ejike said.

The striker, who scored one of Heartland’s three goals in the win against Dolphins last Sunday, had enjoyed a stint with Sharks FC of Port Harcourt, before joining the Owerri side in 2013. He scored Heartland’s third goal as they mauled Wikki Tourists 4-0 through a brace from Julius Ubido and one other goal from the returning Ogbugh.

Heartland top striker, Bright Ejike, has confirmed his availability for Sunday’s match day 19 crucial clash against Wikki Tourists.

The Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) 10-goal hero was conspicuously absent in the side midweek match day 18 clash at El Kanemi Warriors in Katsina due to slight thigh injury he picked in the clash against Dolphins in Oba.

Ejike said he has regained his fitness 100% and will lead the side attack aimed at increasing the goal tally.

“I’m 100% recovered from the slight thigh injury I sustained in our last home match against Dolphins.

“I’m fully prepared for the weekend all important clash against Wikki Tourists, a very important match for us to end the first stanza of the season on high.

“I am not perturbed that the thigh injury denied me the rare opportunity to increase my goal tally against El Kanemi Warriors in Katsina.

“I understand it is only a healthy person that can score goal not the other way round so now I’m fully recovered I will go ahead to do what I know how to do it.

“I do not think that I actually lost anything not playing the game at El Kanemi Warriors more so as my teammates rouse to the occasion to pick a decent result in the encounter.

“Of course, the 1-1 draw at El Kanemi Warriors actually made me happy, it’s a good result to take into the Sunday’s clash against Wikki Tourists and I’m positive we will record an impressive performance,” said the former Sharks marksman to supersport.com.

Heartland dropped to the fifth position despite the 1-1 away draw at El Kanemi Warriors on 29 points from possible 54 in the 18-week old top flight.