BENIN CITY – Ahead of the commencement of the 1st ever National Para Games in Nigeria, Para-powerlifters in Edo State have commenced intense preparations for the Championship.
The maiden National Para Games scheduled to hold between April 9–16, 2022, at the MKO National Stadium, Abuja, is aimed at keeping the athletes in shape ahead of the next All African and Commonwealth Games as well as other international championships.
The OBSERVERSports Crew upon a visit to the state Para-powerlifters Gym training centre at the refurbished Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium on Monday, the Head coach, Patience Aghimile Igbiti and her assistant were seen preparing and dishing out instructions to the athletes during an intensive training session, possibly with a view to having a successful outing at the National Games coming up at the Federal Capital City of Abuja.
The State Para-powerlifters which comprises of male and female of which Omogbai Daniel Gorge and Aboki Love the Ekhuemienogiemwen who are current national champions in their categories were lifting different categories of weights and engaging in other training exercise in order to be fit and prepared for the national Para Games.
Speaking with OBSERVERSports during the training exercise, the Head Coach, Mrs. Patience Aghimile Igbiti, expressed confidence that her athletes are poised to bringing more medals to the state from the National Games, hence, the need for the commencement of intense preparations.
She assured that the state Para-Powerlifters would surpass the 2nd position feat achieved by the powerlifters at the just conducted South-South Para-Powerlifting Championship held in Benin City, Edo State.
“We are committed to surpass our 2nd position feat recorded at the recently concluded maiden South-South Para-Powerlifting Championship and thereby showing to the world that Edo State is number one in the sport.
Coach Igbiti commended the Edo State Government for the support to the athletes thus far, just as she made passionate appeal to the state government to provide modern-day equipment as used by Para-powerlifting athletes in Delta and other states.
She opined that if given the needed equipment to train with and motivated, the state Para-powerlifters will remain top in Nigeria and Africa in general, just as she expressed optimism that Edo State would continue to dominate the game at the national and International levels if the athletes are given necessary support by the state government, organisations and public spirited individuals just like what One Mr. Osawaru Ogbeide-Ihama, is doing for the state para athletes
Speaking on the just concluded 1st ever South-South Para-Powerlifting Championship, the state Para-Powerlifting tactician commended the state Para-Powerlifters for winning eight (8) medals from the available 20 medals, one short of team Delta which claimed, nine (9) medals to become overall best at the championship.
She appealed to the state government to provide the Para-Powerlifters with modern and standard training equipment, lamenting that most times she improvised training equipment in order to get the athletes prepared for championship.
The Edo North-born First Female Para-powerlifting Coach in Nigeria and Africa, lamented shortage of athletes as the main reason the state came second at the just concluded Maiden South-South Para-powerlifting Championship help in Benin City.
Igbiti, however, appealed to the state government to allow her recruit Para-powerlifters from the grassroot who according to her would end up doing the state proud, just as she also harped on the organisation of regular competitions for the athletes.
The head coach, commended the immediate past Edo State Chairman of the recently dissolved Para-Powerlifting Association, Mr. Osawaru Ogbeide-Ihama, who she described as “an angel” to the sport in Edo especially for his unflinching support to the welfare of the athletes and development of the sport in the state.
Speaking to Sports Writers also, Aboki Loveth Ekhuemienogiemwen said: “Delta State is on top because they are being encouraged. Take for example, going home after training as an athlete to drink garri and eat other carbohydrates for supper in comparison to another athlete who eats the right diet and vitamins.
“The one with the right diet will definitely perform better than the other athlete who is eating the wrong food or diet.
” We also need to be provided with modern equipment. I believe that if the Edo state government prepares us effectively by providing us with modern equipment and other things required for our daily living, we will perform well and come out on top after the upcoming national para power lifting competition”.
On his part Mr. Omogbai Deniel George, a 107kg category Para-Powerlifter, assured sports enthusiasts in the state of winning a medal ( Gold) at the forthcoming National Para Games. Omogbai George, is the current 107kg Category champion in Nigeria.
He disclosed that the state para-power lifters are fully preparing seriously in order to do Edo proud at the maiden Para games.
The Edo born Para-powerlifter commended Edo state government and the Head Coach of the Para powerlifting, Mrs. Patience Aghimile Igbiti, for the support and quality training given to the athletes.
