By Dr. Salau D.F(Dee Elf) – NUGA Publicity Liaison Officer 1993-2001
The Nigerian Paralympic Team to the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris has given something for the people to be happy about. The Contingent of 24 Athletes put smiles on the faces of Nigerians with 2 Gold medals, 3 Silver medals and 2 Bronze medals making a total of 7 medals to finish in the 40th position.
The Athletes who represented the country in Para-Powerlifting, Para-Table Tennis, Para-Badminton and Para-Athletics haul a total 7 medals. Three Nigerians, Isau Ogunkunle won a bronze medal in Men’s Singles Class 4 Para-Table Tennis. Also, Bose Omolayo lifted an impressive 145kg to win silver in the Women’s 79kg Para-Powerlifting category. Flora Ugwunwa claimed a silver medal in the Women’s Javelin F54 category with a 19.26 meters effort.
Powerlifter Onyinyechi Mark won Gold for Nigeria lifting 150kg in the Women’s 61 kg. Kwara State born Eniola Bolaji won the first medal for Nigeria winning bronze in the Para-Badminton Women’s singles SL3 event. Nworgu Esther also won silver medal in the Para-Powerlifting Women’s 41kg.
Nigeria’s Team performance on the last day of the Paralympic Games brought smiles to the faces of many of our country men and women with an outstanding performance by the Team Nigeria Captain Folashade Oluwafemiayo setting a new world record. She broke her own world record in the 86 kg Para-Powerlifting to win Gold.
It was praises all the way compared to the main Paris Olympic Games that yielded no medals to the country despite a lot of hopes and anxiety generated by the Contingent to the Games.
Despite the fact that the Nigerian Team to this Paralympic Games in Paris were able to win medals, the outcome of the Games shows that the performance at the 2024 Paralympic Games was far below others at the previous Games.
At the Tokyo Paralympic Games, Nigeria finish 33 compared to 40 position this time. The Performance of the Paralympians is better than their Olympian colleagues, the outcome of the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games gives an opportunity for Nigeria to start early and consistent preparations towards the next Games four years down the lane. All hands must be on deck for our Athletes to be on the medal table.
– Dr Salau D.F (Dee Elf) writes from Lagos at daudasalau2015@gmail.com