Naija Paralympians Who Are Expected To Win Gold

• At PARIS 2024 Olympics

The pomp of the Paris 2024 Olympics ended two weeks ago, but it gave way to a myriad of inspiring narratives that will no doubt take center stage at the Paralympics. From the opening ceremony on Wednesday 28, August 2024 to September 8 which will take place along the iconic Avenue des Champs-Elysees to Place de la Concorde, differently-abled athletes will be showing the world their abilities and resilient spirit.

Team Nigeria is represented by a strong contingent of 35 athletes who are hoping to improve on the country’s glorious past outing at the Games.

Nigeria will compete in four sports: Para-athletics, Para-badminton, Para-powerlifting, and Para- table tennis. The breakdown of Nigeria’s participation includes five athletes in athletics, two in badminton, nine in powerlifting, and eight in table tennis.

These athletes are determined to build on Nigeria’s proud history at the Paralympic Games, where the country first made her debut in 1992 at the Summer Paralympics in Barcelona. Since then, Nigeria has achieved remarkable success, amassing a total of 80 medals, comprising 40 gold, 19 silver, and 21 bronze medals.

Nigeria’s Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh, in his goodwill message, charged Team Nigeria to make a resounding statement of excellence and determination.

Senator Enoh emphasized that the Paralympic Games present a significant opportunity for Nigeria to seek redemption and restore the nation’s pride on the global stage.

“Paris 2024 is not just another sporting event; it’s an opportunity for Team Nigeria to show the world what we are capable of. Our athletes have trained hard, and they are prepared to give their best performance. We are here to compete, to win, and to bring glory to Nigeria,” said Senator Enoh.

Senator Enoh however expressed his confidence in the athletes and his belief in their potential to achieve greatness: “Our para-athletes have always been a source of inspiration and pride for Nigeria. I do not doubt that they will make us proud again in Paris. We are all behind them, and we are confident that they will exceed expectations and bring home numerous medals,” the minister said.

This is coming at the back of a desperate move to ginger the Nigeria Paralympics athletes to redeem the nation’s image at the games, where he has dangled fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000) about twenty-four million naira(N24m) to the athletes to win Gold at the games, Silver medalist will get a princely ten thousand dollars (about sixteen million naira only (N16m) while Bronze medalist will take home five thousand dollars (about eight million naira (N8m).

The 2024 Paris Paralympics, offer these athletes a chance to shine and reclaim Nigeria’s sporting glory after a disappointing medal-less performance at the recent Paris Olympics. Now, the focus is firmly on this group of Paralympians, who are ready to jostle for medals and bring pride to their nation once again.

Here are the lists of 8 special athletes the Nation expects to show greatness at the ongoing event:

FLORA UGWUNWA

Ugwunwa represented Nigeria at the 2016 Summer Paralympics held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and she won the gold medal in the women’s javelin throw F54 event. She also set a new world record of 20.25m at the event.

She also represented Nigeria at the 2020 Summer Paralympics in Tokyo, Japan after winning the silver medal in the women’s javelin throw F54 event at the 2019 World Para Athletics Championships held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

LATIFAT TIJANI

Tijani is a Nigerian powerlifter. She won gold in the women’s – 45kg event at the 2015 African Games in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo. In 2016, she competed in the women’s – 45kg event at the 2016 Summer Paralympics, where she lifted 106kg to win silver.

At the 2019 World Para Powerlifting Championships, she won the bronze medal in the women’s 45 kg event but eclipsed it in Tokyo 2020, where she won gold. Her performance will be closely followed as fans hope she will bring home more medals for Nigeria.

LUCY EJIKE

Ejike is a Nigerian Paralympic powerlifter. She has represented her country at six consecutive Paralympic Games from 2000 in Sydney through to 2021 in Tokyo. She has won medals at each, three gold, two silver, and one bronze.

She won a further silver medal at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games women’s lightweight category of the Para Powerlifting event behind compatriot Esther Oyema.

She is a seasoned Paralympian and will compete in powerlifting, hoping to add another gold to the one her impressive medal haul.

KAYODE ALABI

Kayode and Christiana Alabi got married in 2022, and their union has seen them push each other and train together as they seek the highest honours possible. Both are top-ranked African players in their respective categories and are hoping to win gold in Paris.

CHRISTIANA ALABI

Christiana will be competing in the women’s singles (Class 5) event, and Kayode will be vying for medals across men’s singles (Class 6), men’s doubles (MD14), and mixed doubles (XD17) alongside Faith Obazuaye.

FAITH OBAZUAYE

Obazuaye is a 2018 Commonwealth Games silver medallist. After missing the Tokyo edition, she said in an interview that a gold medal is her target for this edition.

THOMAS KURE

Thomas Kure, dominated the competition in the -65kg weight class winning Nigeria’s third gold at Para Powerlifting World Cup in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt in March, he is one of the 4 Powerlifting to win gold for Nigeria.

BOSE BEJIDE

Bejide won Nigeria’s first medal on the opening day of the competition and emerged victorious in the women’s -50kg category, at the Para Powerlifting World Cup in Sharm El Sheikh, showcasing her exceptional talent and determination to secure the gold medal. She is one to watch, as she is set to win her first Paralympic gold medal in Paris.

–Benprince Ezeh

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