#Rio2016: Nigeria’s track record at the Paralympics

nigeria paralympics

The Paralympic Committee of Nigeria in conjunction with the Federal Ministry of Sports, has just released a list of 23 athletes and 6 coaches that would be representing Nigeria at the forthcoming Rio 2016 Paralympic Games holding from the 7th to 18th 2016 in Brazil.

Media Officer of the Committee, Patrick Ibeh who made the list of athletes available confirmed that Nigeria will only be partaking in 3 events (athletics, powerlifting and table tennis).

Nigeria first made an appearance at the Paralympics in 1992 in Barcelona where it sent 6 contingents to compete in the same three events: track and field, powerlifting, and table-tennis. Nigeria left that event with three medals with Adeoye Ajibola clinging two gold medals in sprint while Monday Emoghawve got one gold in powerlifting.

Nigeria at the 1996 events in Atlanta, Adeoye Ajiboye and Monday Emoghawve again clinched the same medals and in the same events.

At the 2000 events in Sydney, Monday Emoghawve again brought home the gold in men’s powerlifting while Iyabo Ismaila, Nneji, Victoria Nneji, Okafor Patricia clinched all gold medals in Women’s powerlifting. Edith Nzuruike also brought home the gold in Women’s javelin.

At  the table tennis events of the Sydney events, Tajudeen Agunbiade won a gold in men’s singles and the Table tennis men’s team did the same.

In 2004 in Athens, Adekunle Adesoji brought home 3 gold medals from the men’s sprint while Silver Ezeikpe and Lucy Ejike clinched the gold medals in men’s javelin and women’s powerlifting respectively.

For the 2008 Beijing Paralympics, Eucharia Njideka got two gold medals in women’s discus and shotput competitions; Lucy Ejike, a gold in women’s powerlifting; and Ruel Ishaku, a gold in men’s powerlifting.

Finally, at the most rest recent Paralympics which held in London in 2012, Nigeria only got medals in powerlifting with Yakubu Adesokan, Ivory Nwokorie, Esther Oyema, and Joy Onolapo all bringing home gold medals while Ikechukwu Obichukwu and Anthony Ulonnam clinched silver medals.

This September in Rio, Hannah Babalola, Eucharia Iyiazi, Lauretta Onye, Lovina Onyegbule, Flora Ugwunwa and Friday Aibangbe will represent Nigeria at the athletics events while Nsini Ben, Lucy Ejike, Ndidi Nwosu, Bose Omolayo, Josephine Orji, Esther Onyema and Latifat Tijani all women while Yakubu Adesokan, Roland Ezuruike, Abdulazeez Ibrahim, Nnamdi Innocent, Opeyemi Jegede, Paul Kehinde and Tolu-lope Taiwo will represent us at in powerlifting events.

Faith Obiorah (female), Ahmed Koleosho (male) and Emmanuel Nick will represent us in table tennis.

Of all the 22 sports that make up the Summer Paralympics, Nigeria has consistently stuck to the three that it has medal in and this year is not an exception.

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