The duo of Lucy Ejike and Ibrahim Olaitan gave Team Nigeria a lot to cheer on Saturday when they both clinched Bronze medals in Powerlifting.

Ejike, who is the captain of Team Nigeria had only one legal lift which was her first, her subsequent lifts were disqualified. Her enthusiasm ensured a first lift of 130kg that edged out most of her opponents. The second and third attempts to lift 135kg failed. If she had pushed and successfully lifted 132kg in one of her failed attempts she would have won a gold medal.

Olaitan’s medal was in the 67kg category.

These bronze medals by Ejike and Olaitan have increased Nigeria’s medal haul at the Paralympic Games to three, a gold and two bronze medals.

The much awaited Paralympics games are set to begin as the opening ceremonies begin today.

Twenty-two athletes will be representing Team Nigeria in the Tokyo 2020 games this year. It would be recall that the last edition, at Rio 2016 in Brazil, was the most successful outing for Team Nigeria, which became Africa best team and 17th overall on the medal table with eight gold, two silver and two bronze medals.

In Tokyo, Team Nigeria Paralympics will participate in four events: Para Powerlifting, Para-Athletics, Para-Table Tennis and Para Rowing.

The first Paralympics debut for team Nigeria was far back Barcelona 92, with six athletes who came back with three gold medals. Nigeria largest contingent to the games was in Sydney 2000 with 31 Paralympics Athletes when Team Nigeria returned home with 13 medals.

The Team captain Lucy Ejike, 44, who would be featuring in her sixth Paralympics after making her debut at Sydney 2000, has promised that the contingent would surpass the record at Rio 2016.

Ejike won a medal in each of the Games she has been in, winning gold medals in 2004, 2008 and 2016 and silver medals in 2000 and 2012.

The 22 athletes on the team are:

Flora Ugwunwa – Athletics – F
Iyiazi Njideka. – Athletics – F
Lauritta Onye. – Athletics – F
Nwaozu Chituru – Athletics – F
Galadima Suwaibidu – Athletics – M
Tijani Latifat. – Powerlifting – F
Ejike Lucy. – Powerlifting – F
Ibrahim Mujinat – Powerlifting – F
Omolayo Bose. – Powerlifting – F
Obiji Lovelyn. – Powerlifting – F
Oluwafemiayo Folashade -Powerlifting- F
Okpala Pauline – Powerlifting – F
Ibrahim Dauda – Powerlifting – M
Yakubu Adesokan – Powerlifting – M
Innocent Nnamdi – Powerlifting – M
Ijeoma Kingsley – Rowing – M
Fairh Obazuaye – Table Tennis – F
Tajudeen Agunbiade – Table Tennis – M
Olufemi Alabi Olabiyi – Table Tennis – M
Ahmed Koleosho – Table Tennis – M
Ogunkunle Isau – Table Tennis – M
Farinoye Victor – Table Tennis – M

Youth and Sports Development Minster Sunday Dare is sure that Team Nigeria to the Paralympic Games in Tokyo will live up to billings and do the nation proud as games get underway on Tuesday.

Dare said, “Based on condition precedent and the resilience of our special athletes especially when on international assignments, I have no doubt in my mind that these athletes will again make Nigeria proud.

“Their ability to excel and Win medals is in no doubt. They have been consistent. They have trained long and hard.”

The Minister further said that having worked closely with the coaches and technical team of the athletes, he is sure they will give Nigeria their best in the next two weeks while praying and wishing them the best outcomes at their events in Tokyo.

Team Nigeria were the cynosure of all eyes at Tuesday’s opening ceremony of the paralympics games in Tokyo, Japan.

The team filed out in style in their Green and White uniform providing a beautiful setting for the ceremony that had only a handful of people in attendance owing to Covid restrictions.

Chef De Mission of Team Nigeria, the Acting Director of Planning, Monitoring, and Information in the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Peter Nelson who spoke with pressmen at the opening ceremony said the paralympic athletes know what is at stake in Tokyo and the aspirations of Nigerians.

“We are so glad that Team Nigeria to this Paralympics Games know what is at stake. They understand the aspirations of all Nigerians here in Tokyo, Japan. We are looking forward to a memorable outing.

“The athletes are in very high spirit ahead of their respective events. The support and prayers of Nigerians is key and the element of luck cannot be ruled out at this level.

“By God grace medals will start to roll in for Team Nigeria as soon as the different events begin,” the soft spoken Nelson concluded.