Uganda weightlifters claim more gold

Apr 03, 2014

UGANDAN ladies improved the country’s medal tally by winning six gold medals at the second World Islamic Weightlifting Championship

By Silvano Kibuuka

UGANDAN ladies improved the country’s medal tally by winning six gold medals at the second World Islamic Weightlifting Championship.

The five-day competition ended at the MTN Arena, Lugogo yesterday.

Competing alone due to lack of opponents, Becky Namusoke won three gold medals in the 75 kgs plus category.

She lifted 80 kgs in the snatch event and 105 kgs in the clean and jerk for a total of 185 kgs.

Namusoke also improved on her personal best mark of 180 kgs she lifted at the 2012 President’s Cup in Russia.

Namusoke said that she wants to improve her performance ahead of future international events.

She is now eyeing the Commonwealth Games due in Scotland July 23-August 3.

Her colleague Prosy Nyanga also raced to the same number of medals at the Lugogo competition.

She lifted 70 kgs in the snatch event and 90 kgs in clean and jerk for a total of 160 kgs. She competed in the 75 kgs category.

It was a brilliant comeback for the athlete who has been out of competition for two years because of personal commitments.

The ladies went a step better after seasoned athlete Charles Ssekyaaya won gold in the snatch event on Sunday.

Another Ugandan athlete Haula Nakiganda won three silver medals in the 53 kgs category. 

Nakiganda’s teammate Irene Kasuubo, making her international debut, grabbed three bronze medals at the championship held in the country for the first time.

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