Paralympics Sports
‘Better days ahead Nigeria’s Paralympics’
Paris 2024-PCN boss predicts exceptional outings for para-athletes
Table Tennis Star, A. Koleosho of Nigeria
By Rasheed Adewuyi
Sunday, Odebode, President of the Paralympics Committee Nigeria (PCN), has predicted a better and brighter future for para-athletes this year.
Nigeria will participate in the forthcoming Paralympics Games scheduled to be held in Paris, France.
Odebode, in his New Year message to Nigeria para-athletes, said that the Committee is doing all within its capabilities to ensure that the athletes make it to the podium at the Games and other international meets this year. It would be recalled that some athletes from the para table tennis federation have already qualified for the games and athletics.
The para table tennis division has already qualified nine athletes for the Paris 2024 Paralympic games and hopes to qualify more with the qualification windows open in the first quarter of this year.
The qualification for para powerlifting and para Badminton, which is based on ranking, is still ongoing, and we are confident that the eight athletes on the pathway will be able to pick their ticket at the end of their qualifiers, which will end in June.
The sport of para-badminton is also doing everything possible to qualify for the Paralympic games in Paris, as most of the top athletes have attended the mandatory three international tournaments as specified by the Badminton World Federation BWF.
He also disclosed that the athletes prepare well to make the country proud at the All Africa Games slated for Accra, Ghana, in March and other international meets.
The PCN boss, who commended the minister of sports for his vision and aspirations to take sports to the highest level, informed that para-athletes will qualify for more events for Paris 2024 and expressed optimism that the athletes will record more medals at the Games than in previous editions.
‘We are fully prepared for the Games, and I am optimistic that Nigeria will perform better at the Games than the previous ones, and we shall do well this year at various sporting meets and the All Africa Games”, he said.
Delta State
Delta to host Paralympic elective congress
By Rasheed Adewuyi
Delta State government has accepted to host the elective congress of the Nigeria Paralympic Committee.
As contained in the acceptance letter signed 30th April by the Delta State administrative officer, Mr. Emoni Williams, on behalf of the Executive Chairman, Delta State Sports Commission, Mr. Tony Okowa, and made available to Sports Joust, the letter stated that the elective congress will take place on the 15th of May in Asaba.
The letter stated in part 1; “I am directed to refer to your letter no NPC/NGR/28/3/23/1 dated 28th March on the above subject and to inform you that Delta State government has accepted to host the Nigeria Paralympic Committee(NPC) elective congress billed for 15th May ,2023 in Asaba, Delta State”.
“in view of the above therefore, all necessary logistics will be put in place to ensure a hitch free hosting of this all important congress,” the letter further assured.
When contacted, the Secretary General, PCN, Suleiman Issa confirmed the development saying that: “it was a welcome development and a relief to the Committee that the Delta state government has come to its rescue, and has assured that all necessary arrangements have been put in place for the event.