No Side Effects For Female Weightlifters’- Adebukola

Osun-born female weightlifter, Islamiyat Yusuf Adebukola has revealed her aims and objectives in weightlifting and also predicted a shining future for female weightlifters.

Adebukola who has won medals in both National and international competitions, explained this in an online interactive session, tagged “One-On-One with Ijoba sports” as she narrated how her journey in weightlifting started.

‘I started this weightlifting in 2014, before then I didn’t have a plan to be a weightlifter, I only had a plan to just venture into sports but my plans changed when I met my Coach, John Odogwu.

‘He introduced me to weightlifting though it wasn’t easy at all when I started but I kept pushing because I was determined and focused. Now today I’m grateful to almighty Allah’. She said.

While explaining her challenges so far in weightlifting, Adebukola said though her parents supported her when she started, her mother was a bit nervous, but now she is in full support.

‘Challenges are one thing we can’t run away from if we want to make it in life. I sustained an injury in the year 2018 when I was preparing for a youth Olympics in Argentina and that led to my poor performance.

‘I would like to state that there are no side effects for a lady in weightlifting. Society even admires our body with the way we are built, and we are just like every other lady though differently built in terms of physical features and fitness. She emphasized.

Adebukola who hails from Erin-Osun, Osun State called on the Nigerian government to encourage the athletes to provide the necessary equipment and adequate training facilities for the weightlifters.

The female weightlifter added that it’s important for sports stakeholders to put in place a championship within the state for the young ones in the game of weightlifting to discover their talents.

She noted that she plans to become a world champion and also an Olympic champion, stressing that her coaches are her role models, explaining that they have been wonderful mentors for her.

Islamiyat Yusuf Adebukola, a weightlifter, who is currently studying Physical and Health Education at Lagos State University has won medals in both National and international competitions and also won bronze medals at the Commonwealth Games competition held in Birmingham 2022.

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Michael Odetunde

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Odetunde Michael Sunday is a Journalist of his generation. He combines the talent and ability of Print, Online and Broadcast Journalist in a rare manner.

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