By Ben Efe, in New Delhi

Nigeria’s ‘gold rush’ at the Commonwealth Games gathered steam yesterday, when Joe Effionayi Agbonabvare won a second gold medal for the country in the Greco_Roman wrestling event.

TRAIL BLAZER••• Nigeria's Egwero Oghoghene (L) ompetes during the Men's 100m heat of the XIX at the Commonwealth Games on Wednesday

Agbonavbare secured a sensational first round pin fall win over Faamau Afele of Samoa in the 84kg category, to bag Nigeria’s second gold in the New Delhi 2010 Games. But his compatriot, Talaram Mammah was not that lucky as he was beaten to the gold in the 120kg category by Aprian Varntan of Cyprus.

Joseph Romeo had earlier won a bronze in the 60kg category. “We are very happy with the gold medal effort. This is because the boys were very determined to do something for themselves,” said Nigeria Wrestling Federation technical adviser, Daniel Igali.

He stated that Nigeria can expect more medals when the freestyle event begins.
Weightlifter, Augustina  Nwaokolo  set the pace on Monday, when she won  the first gold of the Games. Indians were expecting to win the first gold, but they were left in the cold by Nwaokolo. That precious medal remains a topic of discussion among Indian sports officials.