By Yemi Sodeeq
The Kwara State para team has won a total number of 9 medals at the just concluded Value Jet International para-Table tennis open championship in Lagos on Monday 22nd of December.
With one gold medal, one silver, and seven bronze medals, the Kwara team finished 3rd on the final medal’s table at the second edition of the championship which held at the Sir Molade Okoya Thomas Indoor Sports Hall, Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos.
In a phone interview with Sportspro News correspondent, the team’s captain, Felix Oyadinrin Olatunbosun said the feat recorded in the second edition of the tournament was inspired by the support of the Kwara State Governor, Mallam Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq.
“I want to use this medium to say thank you to the state Governor for giving us the opportunity to participate in the second edition of this championship,” Felix said.
He further stated the athletes decided to justify the confidence repose on them by putting up an improved performance from last year’s edition where they won only three bronze medals.
“The athletes were really happy and excited because we were lodged in one of the best hotels, our allowances was encouraging and all these improve their performances”
Stressing the need to invest more in the para-sports, Olatunbosun noted that a meaningful engagement of people with disability by participating in sports will discourage street- begging and encourage more people to be productive.
“I believe that if the government can do more by providing us a bus and employ more coaches, we are going to achieve the best results in the upcoming National sports festival” He concluded.
Winning a total number of 9 medals, Kudirat Immam Fulani led the pack for the Kwara Contingent by winning the Gold medal in the women class 3, followed closely by Habibat Ibrahim who won Silver in the women standing class 7/8 category.
While Tunde Malik was able to win a bronze medal in the men sitting class 5 category, Ganiyu Yunus and Taofiq Azeez also won bronze in the men sitting class 3 section of the tournament where Delta and Ogun State emerged first and second on the overall medal’s table.
In the men and women class 4 game, Lukman Abefe and Abdulkadir Bilikis won one bronze medal each for Kwara. And while Usman Ajarat clinched a bronze medal in the women class 5, Aminat Adisa also garnered bronze in The women standing class 7/8 game.
