Four para-powerlifting athletes who represented Nigeria at the 9th Fazza Powerlifting World Cup in Dubai, on Friday arrived the country with four gold, News Agency of Nigeria reports.
NAN reports that Paul Kehinde, Roland Ezuruike, Folashade Oluwafemiayo and Esther Onyema represented the country in the championship which ended on Thursday.
Kehinde broke his own record of 220.5kg in the 65kg category set at Mexico City World Championship in 2017, while Oluwafemiayo lifted 146kg in the 86kg category, 1kg higher than her previous record.
Also, Ezuruike and Onyema lifted 192kg and 125kg respectively in 54kg and 55kg categories to clinched gold.
Kehinde, who spoke to NAN immediately they arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, said he was delighted with his performance.
He promised to redouble his efforts at the forthcoming Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia.
He said: “I am happy to win gold for my country again at the international level; my next target is the Commonwealth.”
Also, Onyema said her performance at the just concluded championship would increase her performance in Gold Coast.
She commended the Sports Ministry and Friesland Campina Wamco Nig.Plc, maker of Peak Milk for ensuring their participation at the World Cup.
She said: “Our participation in Fazza is a good way to prepare some of us for the Commonwealth Games and I am glad to be part of it.”
Meanwhile, Are Feyisetan, Head Coach of the Nigeria para-powerlifting team told NAN that the championship was part of the qualification series for the 2020 Paralympics in Tokyo.
Feyisetan said that the competition was also a test run for the athletes ahead of the Commonwealth Games.
He urged public spirited organisations and individuals to support the athletes ahead of the games.
He said: “This competition is a good test run for some of our athletes that participated ahead of the Commonwealth.
“We would have increased the number of athletes but due to inadequate funds only four athletes were able to make it.
“We want other companies in Nigeria to take a queue Friesland Campina Wamco and support us before the games, this is the time we need their support not after we might have won medals.”
Also, Queen Uboh, the newly elected President of the Nigeria Para-Powerlifting Federation, expressed her readiness to improve the sports in the country.
Uboh said more efforts would be put in place to ensure that para-powerlifters get moral and financial support they required.
She said: “This is a good start for me and I am happy with the achievement of the athletes.’’
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