The Nigerian Paralympics Committee (NPC) on Monday, assured Nigerians that it's athletes would win medals for the country at the forthcoming Paralympics in Rio, Brazil, from September 7th to 18th.
The Paralympic athletes, have been Nigeria's hopes for Olympic glory, since the 2012 London games, after the country's athletes failed to win medals at the games. At the London games, they won a total of 13 medals, comprising of six gold medals, five silver medals, and two bronze medals.
The committee's President, Monday Emoghawe, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, that preparations for the Games had not been an easy task for the athletes due to financial constraints. Emoghawe, who is also an Olympic gold medalist from the 1992 Barcelona Paralympics in Spain and 1996 Atlanta, USA, said that the nation will be featuring in power-lifting, table tennis and athletics at the Rio Games. "This present Paralympics preparation is full of challenges, as a result of Nigeria's economic meltdown, but we will try our best to do the country proud. We have never disappointed before and we will not disappoint in Brazil. All the support we have received so far is from the government and it is not sufficient because government alone cannot finance sports. It is not too late for corporate organisations to identify with the athletes before the commencement of the event to boost their morale".
The country currently has 26 gold medals, 11 silver medals, and 12 bronze medals in the Paralympics since it's debut at the 1992 Barcelona Games in Spain.
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