Paralympic gold medallist Ndidi Nwosu has died age 40 ©Getty Images

Tributes have been paid to Paralympic powerlifting gold medallist Ndidi Nwosu of Nigeria, who has died at the age of 40.

Nwosu won the women's up to 73 kilograms category at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro and claimed gold in the same category at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast.

The Nigerian, who made her international debut a year before securing gold at Rio 2016, also earned bronze in the up to 73kg division at the 2017 World Championships in Mexico City.

Ndidi Nwosu also won gold at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast ©Getty Images
Ndidi Nwosu also won gold at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast ©Getty Images

According to former Nigeria Powerlifting Federation President Queen Uboh, Nwosu had struggled since suffering an injury at the Commonwealth Games.

Uboh told Nigerian online newspaper the Premium Times that Nwosu had been in and out of hospital after having surgery on her spine following the injury at the Games.

"World Para Powerlifting extends its condolences to the Nigerian Paralympic Committee and to the Para powerlifting community in the country," World Para Powerlifting said in a statement.