London 2012: Paralympians of hope!

Adesokan who is one of Nigeria’s world record holders to the games stole the headlines by lifting 180kg. He thus set a new Paralympic and world record to help erase memories of his country’s dismal performances at the Olympic Games at the same venue a few weeks ago. Following the dismal outing of Team Nigeria […]

Adesokan who is one of Nigeria’s world record holders to the games stole the headlines by lifting 180kg. He thus set a new Paralympic and world record to help erase memories of his country’s dismal performances at the Olympic Games at the same venue a few weeks ago.

Following the dismal outing of Team Nigeria at the Olympic Games, most Nigerians seem not to be aware that the Paralympic Games is another opportunity for the shame of the nation to be ameliorated. Except for those who have something to do with the athletes preparations and actual participation in the games, only few Nigerians know that 29 physically challenged Nigerians are presently vying for honours in London. The team did not hit London in the usual funfair.

However, going by the past performances of Team Nigeria in Paralympics, there is no doubting the fact that the athletes would wipe away the tears of Nigerians. It is on record that even before Nigeria could win any gold at the Olympics, the paralympians had proved in un-mincing terms that there is ability in disability.

Nigeria has participated in only five Paralympics Games beginning from Barcelona 1992 but boasts of 22 gold, 11 silver and 12 bronze medals. It is interesting to note that while the physically challenged athletes won their first gold medals as far back as 1992 when Adeoye Ajibola won two gold medals in sprint and the current president of Nigeria Paralympics Federation, Monday Emoghawve won gold in powerlifting, it was in 1996 that Nigeria won gold in the Olympics.

Nigeria’s Paralympics team has never recorded any barren outing beginning from Barcelona 1992. However, Nigeria’s best performance at the Games came in 2000 at the Sydney Paralympic Games. Nigeria won seven gold medals.

At the 2004 Athens Games, Nigeria’s Paralympic team won three gold medals. Beijing 2008 was also another year of success for Nigeria’s Paralympics team as the country brought home four gold medals, four silver and one bronze medal.

Team Nigeria is aiming to improve on its previous outings and if the performance of Adesokan on the opening day of the games is anything to go by, Nigerians will not be disappointed for the second time in London.

A quick look at the list of athletes who are flying the colours of the country in the special events reveals great hope. The country is being represented by 16 powerful powerlifters led by Yakubu Adesokan who has already won a gold medal and Grace Alozie.

In the wheel tennis event, Nigeria will be represented by Wasiu Yusuf and Alex Adewale. There is also Tunde Adisa and Oluade Egbinola in wheelchair table tennis to bring home laurels for the country. Team Nigeria is fielding nine athletes in the track and field events. And some of the athletes to watch out for are Iyiazi Njideka, Otoboeze Nneka and Abdullahi Ayuba.

What has inspired so much hope in the camp of Team Nigeria is the performances of the athletes during the qualifiers for the games proper. Most of them picked up gold medals in their events. This shows clearly that barring unforeseen circumstances, they certainly avoid the embarrassing performances of Team Nigeria at London 2012 Games.

Already the National Sports Commission, NSC has made a pledge of at least five gold medals and going by the previous records of the team, there is little or no doubt that in the end, the physically challenged athletes would wipe away Nigerians Olympics tears. They are always the hope of the nation.