The Paralympic Committee of Nigeria, in conjunction with the federal Ministry of Sports, has named 23 athletes and six coaches that would be representing Nigeria at the forthcoming Rio 2016 Paralympic Games holding from September 7-18 in Brazil.
Media Officer of the Paralympic Committee Nigeria, 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.
These include 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 power lifiting events. Table-tennis has only three athletes (two males and one female) representing the country.
Competing in athletics events are, Hannah Babalola, Eucharia Iyiazi, Lauretta Onye, Lovina Onyegbule, Flora Ugwunwa and Friday Aibangbe, the only male athlete while Patrick Aieto and Adekunle Adesoji are the two coaches.
Those for powerlifting include, 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 are to compete in the men’s category.
They have Prince Are Feyisetan, Luke Ibeh both men and Patience Igbiti (female) as their coaches.
Faith Obiorah (female), Ahmed Koleosho (male) and Emmanuel Nick (male) are those for table-tennis with Chinedu Njoku as their coach.
Nigeria won 6 Gold, 5 Silver and 2 bronze medals at the last Paralympic Games in London 2012.
