Babalola confident as Paralympics team settle in Rio
Nigerian Paralympic athlete Hannah Babalola says she is confident that Team Nigeria at the upcoming Games in Rio will make the country proud. The wheelchair sprinter in a twitter post yesterday added that the team will do all it can to return to Nigeria with as many medals as possible especially after the disappointment that followed the country’s outing at the recent Olympics Games.
“We are confident of bringing home medals and by the grace of God we shall achieve our aim.” The 7th Fazaa International Athletics Competition participant in Dubai wrote.
The Nigerian team made up of 23 athletes, six coaches and one athlete’s competition partner flew out through the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport at 5pm on Friday, arriving Rio De Janiero yesterday after a stop in Dubai.
Sports Minister Solomon Dalung asked the athletes to go for gold and also be good ambassadors of the country. He reiterated President Muhammadu Buhari’s stand that they should endeavour to compete cleanly at the Games.
At the London 2012 Paralympic Games, Nigeria won 6 gold, 5 silver and 2 bronze. The Games will hold from September 7 to18.
Meanwhile, Head coach of the Nigerian Para-Powerlifting Federation (NPPF), Feyisetan Are, has called on fans to support Team Nigeria to the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games with prayers.
Are was speaking in a telephone interview with newsmen, before the team left for the Games, which will hold from September 5 to 18 in Brazil.
He stated that although the national team camped in Abuja, the preparations were of the highest level. But it was not only about their physical efforts.
“I believe just as the Bible says that it is not of him that willeth or runneth but of God that showeth mercy. So, we really need the prayers.
“The para-athletes are here again to remove the shame where the able-bodied athletes could not win more than one bronze medal for the nation at the just concluded Olympics.
“Our preparation is geared toward bringing honour to our great nation by doing what the able-bodied could not do, and putting smiles on the faces of our fans and Nigerians.
“We did it in 2012 London Olympics where we won remarkable medals for the nation with six gold, five silver and 2 bronze; so, we will surely repeat the feat.”