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By Amaechi Agbo

Team Nigeria’s hope of a medal at the on-going Paris Olympic Games was all but dashed on Friday evening after weightlifter Joy Eze missed out on medals table.

The 2023 Africa Games champion went into the weightlifting event at the South Paris Arena hoping to out Nigeria’s name on the medals table, though weightlifting enthusiasts believe that with proper and sustained training and exposure she will be the star to beat in in Los Angeles Olympic Games four years later.

However, her 101kg snatch and 131kh clean and jerk with a total of 231kg,were not enough to land her in the medals rank as she ended her campaign 7th.

Joy had hoped to make a record debut performance at the olympics

USA’s Olivia Reeves won gold, setting a new snatch Olympic record of 117kg. She followed with a clean & jerk of 145kg for a total of 262kg.

Colombia’s Mari Leivis Sanchez took silver with a 112kg snatch and 145kg clean & jerk for a 257kg total. And Ecuador’s Angie Paola Palacios Dajomes took bronze with a 116kg snatch and 140kg clean & jerk for a 256kg total.

It could be recalled that her compatriot, Rafiatu Lawal who competed in the 59kg Women class, came 5th. She had a total lift of 230kg comprising 100kg snatch and 130kg in clean and jerk.