Rio Paralympics Games: Ekiti Par athletics commends Nigerian contingent
NAN-S-12
Par athletics
Adedeji Egbebi
Ado-Ekiti, Sept.20, 2016 (NAN) Ekiti Par athletics Association on Tuesday commended Nigerian contingent, especially the Para-power lifters who won gold medals in the just concluded Rio Paralympics Games in Brazil.
Head Coach of Para- power lifting, Ganiyu Arowolo, made the commendation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) in Ado-Ekiti.
He said the outstanding performance of Team Nigeria was an indication that physically challenged athletes were capable of doing the country proud in international competitions.
Arowolo attributed the success of the Para- power lifters to hard work, training, commitment and determination to win medals in the competition.
He appealed to the state government to assist the Para-power lifers with sports equipment, such as weight, weight bench and training hall to compete in National and international competitions.
Head of Para Sports in Ekiti, Peter Ojo, said the par athletes and power lifters excelled in Rio because of maximum concentration during the Games.
“ In the course of the competition, there was no preferential treatment given to them that the able athletes did not get.
“ But, the physically challenged athletes won 12 medals, eight gold, two silver and two bronze.
” The team wiped the tears of Nigerians when the able athletes failed to win medals in the Rio Olympics Games.
“And the Para-lifters who won gold medals and set world records achieved such huge success as a result of their exposure to National, International and World championship, competitions, trials and regular training,” he said.
According to Ojo, One of my athlete, Segun Rotawo who is number one in Nigeria, two in Africa and four in the World four years ago, ought to have participated in the competition but was dropped in camp and he falls in the category T11(total blind athlete).
“But, I was later informed that it was as a result of politics that caused it and I believe in sports, politics should not be allowed to thrive because it will discourage the athletes.
” If he had been included, he would have won more medals for Nigeria but the Para lifters were able to make the country proud as a result of their full concentration,” he said.
Ojo called on philanthropist, non-governmental organisations, and the state government to provide training equipment for the par athletes and power lifters in Ekiti.
He said the athletes needed standard training equipment such as track wheelchair, power lifting bench, sets of weight and training halls to enhance their skills.(NAN)
DJ/MEMO
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Story Edited by Mike Mbonye