2023 National Para Games: Oyo Athletes Optimistic Of Winning Medals—-Some Athletes representing Oyo state at the 2023 Para Games have expressed optimism of wining gold medals the games.
The athletes in separate interviews told the Newsmen that they will not only win medals but set new records.
An Olympian, Yakubu Adesokan said that he won’t be competing at this year’s edition but will be acting as a coach.
Adesokan said that he’s showcasing seven weightlifters whom he’s confident would make the state proud.
“I competed in 2022 and won two gold medals, I trained our representatives for this year’s event. I decided to share my knowledge over the years with them.
“One girl and six boys are taking part in Weightlifting and I’m confident about their skills.
“ I can say categorically that the weightlifters would win six medals with God on our side,” he said.
Oluwatoyin Alayode, who would be competing in canoeing, said that she won five bronze in 2022 and her target is gold.
“ I have put in so many efforts into training so as to win a gold medal. I have what it takes to win it
“ I’ll be taking part in the 200m and 500m of KL2 and also 200m and 500m of VAA VL2,“ she said.
A para-swimmer, Akorede Moses said that at the maiden edition he set an African record and won two gold medals.
Moses said that he’ll be taking part in three events and his target is getting gold medals.
“ My target is the three gold medals and setting new records in the events. I have done it once and I’m hoping to do it again,” he said.
The General Manager, Oyo State Sports Council, Tunde Ajibike said that the athletes had undergone six months of training for the Games.
Ajibike said that he’s confident about their skills as they did well at the maiden edition.
“ They are motivated and the state government will reward those that will win medals after the competition.
“Those that win medals at the end of this competition would go for qualifiers for the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris,” he said.
NAN reports that 57 athletes will take part in the competition from Dec. 8th to Dec. 14.
They will feature in para athletics, para cycling,para swimming, para canoeing, para karate, para powerlifting, para table tennis, wheelchair basketball and wheelchair tennis.
At the maiden edition in 2022 Oyo state came second with 24 gold, 15 silver and 21 bronze medals.
