The Paralympics Committee Nigeria in conjunction with the Federal Ministry of Sports, has named 23 athletes and six coaches that will represent the country at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games scheduled to hold from September 7 to 18 in Brazil.
Media Officer of the PCN, Mr Patrick Ibeh who made the list available, said Nigeria would be competing in only three sports where she has comparative advantage at the Games.
The events are athletics, powerlifting and table-tennis.
Ibeh informed that six athletes made up of five females and one male would compete in athletics events while 14 athletes (seven males and seven females) are to take part in powerlifiting events. Table-tennis has only three athletes (two males and one female). Representing the country in athletics events are, Hannah Babalola, Eucharia Iyiazi, Lauritta Onye, Lovina Onyegbule, Flora Ugwunwa and Friday Aibangbe, the only male athlete while Patrick Aieto and Adekunle Adesoji are the two coaches.
The powerlifting team is made up of Nsini Ben, Lucy Ejike, Ndidi Nwosu, Bose Omolayo, Josephine Orji, Esther Onyema and Latifat Tijani all women while world record holder, Yakubu Adesokan, Roland Ezuruike, Abdulazeez Ibrahim, Nnamdi Innocent, Opeyemi Jegede, Paul Kehinde and Tolu-lope Taiwo are to compete in the men’s category.
Prince Are Feyisetan, Luke Ibeh and Patience Igbiti are the coaches attached to the team.
Faith Obiorah (female), Ahmed Koleosho (male) and Emmanuel Nick (male) will compete in table-tennis with Chinedu Njoku as coach of the team.
Secretary General of the Paralympics Committee Nigeria, Dr Frank Thorpe who departed to Rio last weekend ahead of the Games has ccommended the sports ministry for not neglecting the Paralympic athletes but provided a level playing field for them while the president of PCN, Monday Emoeghavwe is optimistic of the team Nigeria’s good outing at the Rio 2016 Paralympics.
It will be recalled that Nigeria won six gold, five silver and two bronze medals at the last Paralympic Games, London 2012.
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