Abuja – No fewer than 150 para-powerlifters will participate in the Okpekpe National Championship, which begins on Tuesday, the Nigeria Para-Powerlifting Federation (NPPF) Technical Director, has said.
The Director, Samuel Ekeoma, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja, that 12 states would participate in the championship holding in Edo from April 19 to April 24.
Ekeoma listed the states as: Abia, Akwa Ibom, Delta, Ekiti, Edo, Imo, Kano, Oyo, Plateau, Ogun, Cross River, Anambra.
“FCT withdrew from the championship due to lack of funds and we are not regretting the withdrawal.
“It will have been good to see all the para-powerlifters come together for this championship which will include those that qualified for the Paralympics because this is part of their preparation.
“It is mandatory that all the athletes that qualified for the Paralympics must be in attendance for us to monitor their performances after the qualifiers,’’ Ekeoma said.
According to him, the NPPF will begin its local camping as soon as the Ministry of Youth and Sports gives the go ahead.
He noted that the federation was leaving no stone unturned to ensure the powerlifters were adequately prepared for the Paralympics.
Ekeoma also said that the federation would embark on foreign training tour in Korea or Germany from where it would proceed to Brazil for the Paralympics.
NAN reports that 18 Nigerian para- powerlifters qualified for the 2016 Paralympic Games in Brazil. (NAN)
