Hannah Babalola is one of the medal hopefuls for Nigeria at the 2016 Paralympic Games

With Rio 2016 Olympic Games concluded, Team Nigeria’s contingent will on Thursday depart the country for the Paralympic Games commencing next Wednesday.

Twenty-three athletes have been listed by the Nigeria Paralympic Committee, with six coaches accompanying the team to Brazil for the competition that will run from September 7-18, 2016 in Rio De Janeiro.

Unlike at the Olympics where Nigeria presented athletes in eight different sports, the country will be taking part in just three sports at the Paralympics: Athletics, Power-lifting and Table-Tennis, as the sports governing body believes that they stand a better chance of winning medals in these events.

At the last Paralympics in London, Nigeria won a total of 13 medals: six gold, five silver and two bronze. Nigeria has a history of performing very well at the Paralympics, especially in Power-lifting events.

The 23 athletes representing Nigeria this time around in Rio are listed as follows in their following events:

-Power-lifting:
Yakubu Adesokan, Roland Ezuruike, Nsini Ben, Lucy Ejike, Ndidi Nwosu, Bose Omolayo, Josephine Orji, Esther Onyema, Latifat Tijani, Abdulazeez Ibrahim, Nnamdi Innocent, Opeyemi Jegede, Paul Kehinde, Tolu-lope Taiwo.

– Table-Tennis:
Faith Obiorah, Ahmed Koleosho and Emmanuel Nick.

Athletics:
Hannah Babalola, Eucharia Iyiazi, Lauritta Onye, Lovina Onyegbule, Flora Ugwunwa and Friday Aibangbe.

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Athletics coverage was a discovery, having to move away from regularly writing about Football. Although it was initially daunting, but now being an authority in it makes the past effort worthwhile. From travelling on the same international flight with Nigerian athletes, to knowing you could easily interview: World Record holder Tobi Amusan, then Ese Brume, I have cut my teeth in this beat earning the trust of Athletics sources. Formerly the Content Manager-Sports at Ringier media Nigeria, Chris is a Senior Sports writer, Photographer & Community manager at Making of Champions.

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