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Tag: Team Nigeria

  • Paris 2024: How Team Nigeria ended 2024 Paralympics

    Paris 2024: How Team Nigeria ended 2024 Paralympics

    Nigeria’s Folashade Oluwafemiayo on Sunday broke her own world record in the women’s over 86kg Para-Powerlifting at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris, France to bring the overall medals Team Nigeria won at the Paralympics to seven (7).

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the Nigerian contingent at the Paralympics was no doubt motivated after the federal government (FG) announced an upward review of the winning bonuses for the Paralympic athletes.

    Recall that during the just concluded Olympic Games, where the athletes won no medals, the FG announced bonuses of 5,000 USD, 3, 000 USD and 2,000 USD for winners of Gold, Silver and Bronze respectively. However, the government renewed the bonus template for the Paralympics to 15,000 USD, 10,000 USD and 5,000 USD for Gold, Silver and Bronze medal winners respectively.

    Eniola Bolaji was the first to win the first medal for Nigeria in the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games. She defeated Kozyna Oksana of Ukraine 2-0 (21-9 and 21-9) to win the bronze medal in para badminton in the Women Singles SL3 category.

    Esther Nworgu went on to win the second medal for Nigeria in the Para-powerlifting event. Nworgu was narrowly beaten in the women 41kg category by China’s Zhe Cui, who lifted 119kg to set a new Paralympic Games record, taking the gold. Nworgu lifted an impressive 118kg to secure the silver medal.

    It was Onyinyechi Mark, who on Friday, won the first gold medal for Nigeria at the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games. Mark, broke her record twice during the event, set a new world record in the Women 61kg para-powerlifting category by lifting 150 kg to win gold for Nigeria. She had earlier lifted 145kg, 146kg, 147kg, before she finally lifted 150kg to set the new Paralympic Games and world record which won gold for Nigeria.

    Team Nigeria on Saturday added a silver medal to the medal haul after Flora Ugwunwa won in the women’s javelin throw event. Ugwunwa, who competed in the women’s F54 category of the athletics event, achieved a throw of 19.26 metres to finish second in the competition. Ugwunwa’s win made it one gold, two silver and two bronze medals.

    Powerlifter Bose Omolayo also on Saturday added to Team Nigeria’s medals haul by winning the silver medal in the women’s 79kg event of the Paralympic Games in Paris. Omolayo lifted 145kg to place second behind China’s Han Miaoyu who lifted 154kg to win the gold medal and set a new world record. Omolayo’s victory took Nigeria’s total medals to six, made up of one gold three silver and two bronze medals.

    On the final day of the 2024 Paralympic Games, Team Nigeria’s captain at the Paralympics, Folashade Oluwafemiayo drew the curtains on Nigeria’s participation at the Games, winning a spectacular gold medal to crown what has been a successful outing for Nigeria at the Paralympics. Oluwafemiayo broke her World Record in the women’s over 86kg Para-Powerlifting, becoming the first Para-athlete in history to lift 166kg. It is an improvement from her existing WR of 165kg, and also added a gold medal to Nigeria’s medals haul.

    TNG reports Team Nigeria with the 7 medals haul finished 40th overall on the 2024 Paralympics medal table; 4th in Africa behind Algeria, Tunisia and Morocco. Since 1992 Barcelona Paralympics, Nigerian Paralympians have won medals at all the nine editions they have been to. Team Nigeria won ten medals at the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo, Japan.

    Team Nigeria 35-member contingent at the 2024 Paralympic Games consists of 23 athletes, seven coaches and five medical personnel.

  • Paralympics: Omolayo wins Nigeria’s 6th medal

    Paralympics: Omolayo wins Nigeria’s 6th medal

    Powerlifter Bose Omolayo on Saturday added to Team Nigeria’s medals haul by winning the silver medal in the women’s 79 kilogrammes event of the Paralympic Games in Paris, France. Omolayo lifted 145kg to place second behind China’s Han Miaoyu who lifted 154kg to win the gold medal and set a new world record.

    Omolayo was the Paralympic champion, having won the gold medal in the event at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics, while Han is the current world champion. She placed ahead of Safaa Hassan of Egypt who lifted 139kg to finish third and win the event’s bronze medal. Omolayo’s victory thus took Nigeria’s total medals haul so far at the Games to six, made up of one gold three silver and two bronze medals.

    Ugwunwa wins javelin’s silver to give Team Nigeria fifth medal

    Team Nigeria on Saturday in Paris at the 2024 Paralympic Games added a silver medal to its haul, after Flora Ugwunwa won in the women’s javelin throw event. Ugwunwa, who competed in the women’s F54 category of the athletics event, achieved a throw of 19.26 metres to finish second in the competition. The winning throw was her second in the competition’s final, with her first being 18.00m. Her third was 18.24m, with the fourth, fifth and sixth being 18.68m, 18.40m and 17.50m respectively.

    Uzbekistan’s Nurkhon Kurbanova won the event’s gold medal with a world record-setting throw of 21.12m as her best in the mandatory six throws. Kurbanova, who had earlier won the bronze medal in women’s shot put F54, never gave her competitors a chance. She had throws of 20.07, 21.02, 20.27, 21.02 and 20.98 in her first, second, third, fourth and sixth throws respectively, with the world record-setting 21.12 in the fifth throw.

    Ugwunwa’s win has now made it one gold, two silver and two bronze medals so far to place Team Nigeria in the 52nd position at the Games. The Games comes to an end on Sunday.

  • Paralympics: Ugwunwa wins javelin’s silver to give Team Nigeria fifth medal

    Paralympics: Ugwunwa wins javelin’s silver to give Team Nigeria fifth medal

    Team Nigeria on Saturday in Paris at the 2024 Paralympic Games added a silver medal to its haul, after Flora Ugwunwa won in the women’s javelin throw event.

    Ugwunwa, who competed in the women’s F54 category of the athletics event, achieved a throw of 19.26 metres to finish second in the competition.

    NAN reports that this winning throw was her second in the competition’s final, with her first being 18.00m.

    Her third was 18.24m, with the fourth, fifth and sixth being 18.68m, 18.40m and 17.50m respectively.

    Uzbekistan’s Nurkhon Kurbanova won the event’s gold medal with a world record-setting throw of 21.12m as her best in the mandatory six throws.

    Kurbanova, who had earlier won the bronze medal in women’s shot put F54, never gave her competitors a chance.

    She had throws of 20.07, 21.02, 20.27, 21.02 and 20.98 in her first, second, third, fourth and sixth throws respectively, with the world record-setting 21.12 in the fifth throw.

    NAN reports that Ugwunwa’s win has now made it one gold, two silver and two bronze medals so far to place Team Nigeria in the 52nd position at the Games.

    The Games comes to an end on Sunday.

  • Paris 2024: Team Nigeria settles in games village ahead of 2024 Paralympics

    Paris 2024: Team Nigeria settles in games village ahead of 2024 Paralympics

    Team Nigeria has arrived at the Games Village in Paris for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.

    The 35-member contingent, which includes 23 athletes, seven coaches, and five medical personnel, reached the Games Village on Thursday after completing their training camp in Germany.

     

    Suleiman Isah, the Secretary General of the Paralympic Committee of Nigeria (PCN), informed journalists  that PCN President, Sunday Odebode, welcomed the team upon their arrival. Isah stated,

    “The Team Nigeria arrived today from Germany, where they had been preparing for weeks.

    The PCN President and I received the team, and they are now settling in. Training is set to begin tomorrow.”

     

    Nasiru Sule, the head coach of Team Nigeria and a bronze medalist in table tennis from the Atlanta Paralympics, expressed confidence in the team’s readiness.

    He noted, “The atmosphere is calm and conducive.

    All the athletes are eager to compete and make the country proud. They have trained vigorously and are highly motivated.”

     

    Sule added that the athletes are determined and well-prepared, thanks to the thorough planning and focus of the PCN leadership during the training camp.

    “We are in high spirits and ready for the challenge. While I cannot predict the exact number or color of medals, I am optimistic that we will bring home a good haul,” he said.

     

    Team Nigeria had previously won ten medals at the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo, Japan.

    For the Paris 2024 Games, Luritta Onye has been named as the Flag Bearer, with Folashade Olufemi-Ayo serving as Team Captain. Mariam Wophil is the Chaperon, and Prof. Bola Flourence Adeyanju has been appointed as the General Chaperon.

  • Nigeria ends Paris Olympic games without medal

    Nigeria ends Paris Olympic games without medal

    Team Nigeria’s participation at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games has come to an end without a medal.

    Team Nigeria went to the Olympics on the back of some great performances in qualifying events. They registered for 12 events, but sadly – like previous Games – failed to translate its continental dominance at the Olympics.

    The country took about 77 athletes to the Games in Paris but a series of heartbreaking losses and some administrative lapses have seen Nigeria return home without a medal. The last time that happened was at the London Games in 2012.

    President Bola Tinubu had approved N12 billion for the country’s outing at the Olympics and the Paralympics. N9bn was earmarked for the former while N 3bn was budgeted for the latter.

    The final hopes for a podium finish were dashed as Amuchechi Hannah Reuben was defeated 2-5 by Mongolia’s Davaanasan Amar Rnkh in the women’s wrestling 76kg freestyle.

    Nigeria’s campaign was marked by a series of mixed results across various disciplines.

    While there were standout performances from athletes like Favour Ofili in athletics and Blessing Oborududu in wrestling, the team ultimately fell short of its medal targets.

    The absence of a medal is undoubtedly a disappointment for the nation, which has a rich sporting history.

     

  • Olympics: Team Nigeria to return home empty -handed as last girl standing, Eze misses podium finish

    Olympics: Team Nigeria to return home empty -handed as last girl standing, Eze misses podium finish

     

    Team Nigeria’s hopes for a medal at the ongoing Paris Olympic Games were dashed on Friday evening when weightlifter Joy Eze missed out on the podium.

    The 2023 Africa Games champion entered the weightlifting event at the South Paris Arena with high hopes of earning a medal for Nigeria. Weightlifting enthusiasts believe that with proper and sustained training and exposure, she will be a strong contender in the Los Angeles Olympic Games four years from now.

    Despite her efforts, Joy’s lifts of 101kg in the snatch and 131kg in the clean and jerk, totaling 231kg, were not enough to secure a medal. She concluded her campaign in 7th place.

    USA’s Olivia Reeves won gold, setting a new Olympic record with a 117kg snatch. She also lifted 145kg in the clean and jerk, totaling 262kg. Colombia’s Mari Leivis Sanchez claimed silver with a 112kg snatch and a 145kg clean and jerk, totaling 257kg. Ecuador’s Angie Paola Palacios Dajomes took bronze with a 116kg snatch and a 140kg clean and jerk, totaling 256kg.

    Additionally, Joy’s compatriot, Rafiatu Lawal, who competed in the 59kg Women’s class, finished in 5th place. She lifted a total of 230kg, comprising 100kg in the snatch and 130kg in the clean and jerk.

  • Paris 2024: Medal drought continues as Lawal misses podium finish by 5KG

    Paris 2024: Medal drought continues as Lawal misses podium finish by 5KG

    Nigeria continued her medal drought at the ongoing 2024 Olympic Games as Folashade Rafiatu Lawal missed out on a podium finish in the women’s 59kg weightlifting event. Lawal put up a strong fight but finished in fifth position with a total lift of 230kg in the Snatch and Clean and Jerk. Her tally was 5kg short of the bronze medalist, Kuo Hsing-chun of Chinese Taipei.

     

    Earlier in the day, Nigeria’s teams failed to advance to the finals in the 4x100m relays. The men’s quartet, consisting of Favour Ashe, Kanyinsola Ajayi, Alaba Akintola, and Usheoritse Itsekiri, finished 7th in heat 1 of the men’s 4x100m. Similarly, the women’s team, made up of Justina Eyakpobeyan, Favour Ofili, Rosemary Chukwuma, and Tima Godbless, finished 6th in heat 2 of the women’s 4x100m, running a season’s best time of 42.70 seconds.

     

    In wrestling, Odunayo Adekuroye was defeated by China’s Kexin Hong in the quarter-finals, while Esose Ibadin failed to secure a place in the men’s 800m final.

  • Olympics: Team Nigeria records several losses on tracks

    Olympics: Team Nigeria records several losses on tracks

    Team Nigeria continued to suffer losses in the athletics competition of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, losing out on several fronts in Wednesday evening’s events.

    The team had started on a bright note with Oluwatobiloba Amusan breezing into the semi-finals of the women’s 100 metres hurdles.

    But several losses by midday, including on the wrestling mat and in cycling at the velodrome, were rounded off with others by nightfall.

    Ezekiel Nathaniel failed to make it to the final in the men’s 400m hurdles, finishing fifth in semi-final 1 with a time of 48.65 seconds.

    In the men’s 200m semi-finals, Chudi Onwuzurike finished seventh in semi-final 3 after a time of 20.72 secs.

    Also, Ella Onojuvwevwo could not advance from the women’s 400m semi-finals after finishing sixth in semi-final 2 with a time of 51.05 secs.

    Samuel Ogazi ended Team Nigeria’s day of losses on the Stade de France tracks by losing in the men’s 400m final. He finished seventh in 44.73 secs.

    Team Nigeria will continue its hustling for medals on the athletics tracks on Thursday in the women’s 4x100m relay round 1.

  • NBBF urges D’Tigress to go for glory against Team USA

    NBBF urges D’Tigress to go for glory against Team USA

    The President of the Nigerian Olympian Association (NOA), Olumide Oyedeji, has urged members of record breaking D’Tigress of Nigeria to maintain their steam against Team USA in their 2024 Paris Olympic quarterfinal today.

    Oyedeji, who was a member of the Nigerian Men’s team that qualified for the 2012 Olympics Basketball Tournament in London, praised the team for bringing joy to the face of Nigerians despite all odds.

    The NBBF board member urged them to play without fear and with the Nigerian Spirit because “Naija no dey carry last”.

     

    Olumide Oyedeji who captained the D’Tigers to Nigeria’s only Afrobasket Trophy also commended the technical crew of D’Tigress for a job well done.

     

    “Stay strong and play your game, all Nigerians and indeed Africa are behind you,” the former NBA star stated.

     

    Oyedeji, who is also the 3rd Vice President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee, added that what the Ladies have achieved will be related to the generations to come.

     

    He equally urged other members of Team Nigeria to the Paris Olympic Games to give their best as the nation is very proud of them.

     

    Olumide Oyedeji who is also an Olympian, explained that the spirit of the Games is not all about winning, “Sometimes you win some and defeat may come another time, so be ready as a sport man or woman to take the outcome in good fate,” he stressed.

     

    So far at the Games, members of Team Nigeria have reached the final of the Shot Put, Women’s Long Jump, 400m men and women’s 200m in athletics while D’Tigress are in the last eight in the basketball event.

     

    This is the first time in 36 years that a Nigerian will be running in the final of the men’s 400m, it was another history for Favour Ofili competing in the final of the women’s 200m and for first time three Nigerian athletes are in the final of the Long Jump.

     

    This development, the NBBF board member says should be celebrated and the athletes encouraged to do more.

  • Paris 2024: Nigeria’s Ogazi races into 400m final

    Paris 2024: Nigeria’s Ogazi races into 400m final

    Samuel Ogazi advanced to the men’s 400m final at the 2024 Olympic Games on Tuesday night.

     

    Ogazi secured third place in Heat 3 of the men’s semi-final, clocking a personal best time of 44.41 seconds.

     

    Great Britain’s Matthew Hudson-Smith won the race with a time of 44.07 seconds, while Michael Norman finished second with a time of 44.26 seconds.

     

    Ogazi is the first Nigerian athlete to qualify for the men’s 400m final in 36 years, with Innocent Egbunike being the last to do so.

     

    The final will take place on Thursday.