The last Delhi 2010 weightlifting medals were up for grabs this evening as England’s para-sport powerlifters tried to add to the bronze won by schoolgirl Zoe Smith in the women’s 58kg category on day three.

It wasn’t to be, as the Nigerians dominated both the men’s and women’s competitions at the Jawaharlal Nehru Sports Complex.

Suffolk Spartan lifter Zoe Newson notched a personal best as she came closest to matching Smith’s achievement. With a score of 100.4, she finished fourth behind a trio of Nigerians in the bench press.

A world junior champion and European junior record holder in her 40kg category, Newson was determined to savour her first taste of Commonwealth Games action.

“I really enjoyed it,” she said, “I’m very pleased with my performance and it was great to get a personal best.

“I’ll gain a lot from this experience.”

In the men’s bench press, Londoner Ali Jawad came fifth, pressing 167.5kg to score 182.3 in a session which also ended with three Nigerians on the podium.

Jawad, who trains at the University of East London, previously competed in judo but there is no category for his disability at the Paralympic Games so he switched to weightlifting.

Another lifter who switched sports, Chris Rattenbury, from Milton Keynes, came to the bench from wheelchair sprinting. Lifting in group B, Rattenbury lifted 165kg ending up on 147.3 and finishing 15th in the overall rankings.