体坛英语新闻：Nigeria wins power-lifting gold medal at Paralympics

LAGOS, Aug. 30 (Xinhua) -- Nigeria got off to a bright start at the 2012 Paralympic Games Thursday by winning a gold medal and setting a new world record.

World record holder Yakubu Adesokan won the gold medal in the men's +48kg power-lifting at the ExCel South Arena by lifting 180kg.

He set a new Paralympic and world record to help erase memories of his country's dismal performances at the Olympic Games at the same venue a few weeks ago.

The 33-year-old Nigerian had set the world record of 177kg on Feb. 22 in Dubai, the UAE.

Nigeria's Ruel Ishaku had also held the Paralympic record of 169kg set on Sept. 9, 2008 at the last Games in Beijing, China.

Adesokan had started off in Group A of the 11-lifter event, and emerged the best after three attempts by each competitor.

The Nigerian first lifted 172kg, and then 178kg, before lifting a record-setting 180 kg.

Vladimir Balynetc of Russia won the silver medal with a lift of 170kg, while Taha Abdelmagid of Egypt won the bronze with 165kg.