5th September, 2012
With five days to the end of the 2012 Paralympic Games holding in London, Team Nigeria are still waxing stronger, leading other African nations on the medals table.
Unlike at the main Olympic Games, where the able -bodied athletes failed to register the country’s name on the medals table, the disabled athletes are Nigeria’s heroes.
The Nigerian team, who are currently 12th on the overall medals table in London, are rated the best amongst the African countries competing at the Games, including South Africa, Tunisia and Morocco.
As at press time on Wednesday, Nigeria have won a total of 11 medals; 5 gold, 5 silver and 1 bronze, while Tunisia follows in the second position with 4 gold, 4 silver and 2 bronze medals.
Team South Africa are third on Africa’s medals table with 3 gold, 5 silver and 7 bronze medals. In the fourth position are Egypt with 3 gold, 2 silver and 6 bronze medals, while Morocco are fifth with 3 gold and 1 bronze medal.
Loveline Obiji won Nigeria’s 5th gold medal in the Women’s – 82.50kg powerlifting yesterday. The other paralympians who have won gold medals for the country are Yakubu Adesokan in the Men’s 48kg, Ivory Nwokorie in the Women’s 44kg, Esther Oyema and Joy Onaolapo.
Ikechukwu Onwuchukwu also won a silver medal for Nigeria in the Men’s 52kg, Folashade Oluwafemiayo won silver in the Women’s 75kg, while Victoria Nneji won a bronze medal in the 67kg.