Lagos – The first batch of Paralympic athletes scheduled for a training tour of Korea, preparatory to the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing, China, left the country Saturday.
Brown Ebewele, first Vice-President of the Paralympic Committee of Nigeria, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that absence of a chartered aircraft affected their movement.
“The first batch of the athletes commenced the trip to Korea Republic Saturday while the remaining two batches were billed to travel yesterday and tomorrow “ he said.
The physically-challenged athletes completed the last round of trials for the Paralympic Games at the Liberty Stadium, Ibadan on Wednesday.
Simon Ebhojiaye, Secretary of the Paralympic Committee told NAN that Nigeria would compete in powerlifting, table tennis and track events.
He said Nigeria had 11 slots in track and field and that Manchester 2002 Commonwealth Games gold medalist, Adekunle Aderemi, Silver Ezeikpe and Joseph Godwin are part of the contingent.Ifechi Uzoefuna, Abdullahi Ayuba, Bashiru Yunusa, Patricia Nneji, Segun Rotawo, Njideka Iyiazi, Deborah Obolo and Goodness Duru are also expected to compete.
In the Wheelchair Tennis event, only Wasiu Yusuf and coach Frank Tarmena made the Paralympic team with Jude Uwazie only joining for the Korean tour.
Ebewele charged the athletes to win medals for the country, stating that all eyes were on them to do the nation proud.
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