Nigeria third best African team as Paralympics end

Nigeria third best African team as Paralympics end…

Team Nigeria to the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games ended their campaign with a total of 10 medals comprising four gold, one silver and five bronze medals as curtains get drawn on the multi-sports event on Sunday (today).

Nigeria are currently 32nd on the overall medals table going to the last day of the competition but will not be adding another medal after the country ended their competition on Saturday with Flora Ugwunwa winning a gold medal in javelin with a throw of 19.39m in the F54 class event while Lauritta Onye followed up with a bronze in shot put failing to defend the gold she won five years ago in Rio.

Team Nigeria won three gold medals from para powerlifting with Latifat Tijani, Bose Omolayo and Folashade Oluwafemiayo having the country’s flag raised in the -45, -79 and -86 kg respectively.

Loveline Obiji won silver in the +86kg while Lucy Ejike and Olaitan Ibrahim winning bronze medals in the -61 and -67kg events.

Flora Ugwunwa claimed gold in the women’s javelin throw – F54,

Eucharia Iyiazi won a bronze medal in the women shot put – F40, while Lauritta Onye took home another bronze medal in the women’s, shot put – F57 event.

The country also claimed bronze in the Men’s Team – Classes 9-10 table tennis event.

The result is a contrast to the one achieved in 2016 where the country took home eight gold, two silver and two bronze medals with a 23-man contingent.

China finished top of the log amassing a total of 200 medals comprising of 93 gold, 57, silver and 50 bronze medals with Great Britain coming a distant second with 41 gold, 38 silver and 43 bronze medals totalling 122 medals while the Russian Paralympic Committee are currently third with 36 gold, 32 silver and 49 bronze medals.

Tunisia are the highest-ranked African country at the Games with four gold, five silver and two bronze medals while Algeria are second with four gold, four silver and four bronze medals.

Nigeria are currently third on the log while South Africa’s four gold, one silver and one bronze medal place them fourth with Morocco in the fifth with three gold, four silver and two bronze medals.