Commonwealth Games para-powerlifter, Esther Oyema has downplayed any negative effects she might have from only being able to win a silver medal at the recent National Sports Festival in Abuja.
Although Oyema admits all expectation had been on her to claim the gold medal, considering her national team status, sports247.ng gathered that she is staying upbeat for better days ahead of her.
Oyema, who lifted 133kg to erase 126kg in the 65kg weight class she set previously at the 2015 Africa Games in Congo Brazzaville, moaned that lack of adequate facilities in Edo State accounted for her missing gold.
However, Oyema said she has put the Abuja 2018 setback behind her, as she aims to return to reckoning for the 2019 All Africa Games and set a new world record in the coming year as well.
The world record holder in para power lifting, said her target is to set another record in the forthcoming World Championships from January 28 to 30 at Oriental Hotel, Lagos.
Oyema, who broke her record of 141.6 lift in women’s lightweight at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia in April 2018, is still optimistic of setting another mark, as she is preparing hard for the tournament.
She stressed that she is not under pressure to contest for gold in Lagos next month but promised to do her best.
Oyema added: “I am happy about the silver medal, though a lot of people expected me to win the gold medal at the NSF.
“I am not putting myself under any pressure; I will definitely do my best at the world championship, as my target is to set a new record.
“Though training has not been easy due to lack of facilities in Edo, but I am doing the best I can and hopefully, it will turn out right in the end.”
