Nigeria’s representatives to the Weightlifting Youth Olympic Qualifiers in Egypt returned to the country with 13 gold, 9 silver and 18 bronze medals.

The weightlifters scored 528 points to place second after the hosts, Egypt, at the event which held from March 19 to March 26.

Egypt won the competition with 552 points, while Tunisia came third with 501.

Uche Onwumeh, Secretary, Nigeria Weightlifting Federation (NWF), applauded their outstanding performance, saying that it was the result of hardwork and commitment.

Onwumeh said the athletes were not internationals and were selected on individual merit at the trial held in Lagos on Feb 28.

“I must commend the commitment of the weightlifters as well as that of the coaches during their training and they have proved their worth with this performance’’. Onwumeh said.

The team, which returned aboard Egypt Air, also won two trophies as the outstanding youth women team of the competition, added the scribe who was visibly happy with the development.

“The striking thing is that they trained here without any training tour and majority of them had their first outing at the qualifier, yet they came out victorious,’’ Onwumeh said.

Patrick Bassey, NWF, Chief Coach, also expressed satisfaction with their performance, saying: “I subjected them to a rigorous training for the tournament’’.

Bassey said his joy was that the lifters did not disappoint the country and that they were flexible and enduring the pains of the activities.