Powerlifting veteran Ruel Ishaku yesterday showed the world he is one tough cookie - and fulfilled a promise to his children.

A recent training accident in which135kg fell onto his chest couldn't stop the Nigerian from achieving glory at the Beijing Paralympics.

Nigerian Ruel Ishaku lifts the first powerlifting gold of the Games in the -48kg with a new world record of 169kg yesterday. [Xinhua]

The three-time Paralympian was fearless before his world record-breaking gold medal performance yesterday in the 48kg catergoy despite the frightening hiccup before the Games.

"I have been planning to win the gold medal since the Sydney eight years ago," said the powerful Nigerian, whose fresh face belies his 41 years.

"I believed I could win it this time and break the world record.

"Now I've done it.

"My kids called me and asked me to win the gold medal for them. I said, 'Your daddy will do it'."

The Nigerian caused a stir when he rolled onto the platform among Group B contestants yesterday.

His true strength far exceeded the official first-lift weight of 142.5kg, which appeared erroneously on official registration forms.

Experienced lifters often register less weight than their personal best, but Ishaku wasn't foxing in this case.

"We registered 155kg for the opening attempt, but the weights were changed all of a sudden and the change was not known to us," said Ishaku after winning his second Paralympic medal.

Officials at the powerlifting venue said there had been complications and insisted the Nigerian first attempt 142.5kg.

But following his insistence, his opening attempt was bumped up to 155kg.

After lifting it cleanly and putting the distraction out of mind, the Nigerian proceeded to haul 160kg, followed by 167.5kg to secure the win.

In his fourth and voluntary lift, the Nigerian pressed 169kg, half a kg more than the previous world record set by China's Wu Guoying in Kunming four months earlier.

It was sweet victory for Ishaku eight years after a shoulder injury stopped him from winning a medal at the Paralympic Games in Sydney 2000.

Bad luck plagued him again four years later in Athens, where he twisted an arm in training just before competition and was forced to settle for bronze.

"I knew that was far from my best," he said yesterday, savoring the victory.

Blessed with natural strength in his upper body, Ishaku started training as a powerlifter at age 24.

"I started in 1991, but I have been particularly interested in powerlifting since I was young.

"When I heard it was an event for people with a disability, I was very excited. I knew that I was very strong."

Away from his sport, Ishaku is married with three kids and runs his own furniture factory in Nigeria.

"I am a professional powerlifter and a professional carpenter," he said, smiling.

"But I have been always aware of controlling my bodyweight. I try to eat less whether it's in the run-up to a competition or not."

Ishaku is part of a strong tradition of powerlifting in Nigeria.