ABUJA- Oyo team’s men para wheelchair basketball club on Sunday recorded their first win in the para wheelchair basketball at the Para-Sports Games in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Oyo team defeated Lagos team 21-14 in the day one game at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium.
The competing which started on Sunday, is expected to end on Tuesday in Abuja.
NAN reports that Oyo team led the first quarter by 5-6 but Lagos team snatched the lead in the second and third quarters by 12-9 and 14-13.
Oyo team, however, fought back to win the last quarter after leading the game with seven points difference 21-14.
After the match, Layi Alimi, the Head Coach of Lagos team, said his players displayed some good skills which helped them but they lost the game.
“ My players are happy to be part of this second edition; this is our first appearance; it’s a great experience for the coaching crew and players,” he said.
He said that “it’s unfortunately we lost the game; we started up great, a very good effort but the Oyo team proved their supremacy, using a lot of experience.
“ It wasn’t a bad display by my players;
we will make adjustments in our subsequent matches. Our target is to lift the trophy.
“If another opportunity comes by to meet the Oyo team again, we won’t hesitate to beat them,” he said.
On her part, Unis Akintunde, Head Coach of Oyo wheelchair team, said “my players displayed self control and confidence because as the defending champions of first edition of para sports game, we need to defend our title very well.
“My players played their best by applying new skills to win the game. This serves well as we do not want to take any chances in all our matches .
“ The game was good, especially the two team looked ferocious from the beginning of the whistle to the end. You cannot tell who would be the winner but we did.
“We will go back to our drawing board and do the necessary permutation to win our remaining game.
We have International Wheelchair Basketball Referee officiating today and it’s good ,” she said.
NAN reports that six state teams registered but only three teams are present.
They are in men’s category, Oyo team and Lagos team while the women category came from Oyo team .
NAN reports that 15 sports events featured in the second edition.
The sports are Amputee football, Nigeria Shooting Sports Federation, Sitting Volleyball, Para Table Tennis, Para swimming, Wheelchair Basketball, Para Taekwondo and Wheelchair Tennis.
Others are Para Badminton, Powerlifting, Deaf sports, Para Athletics, Para Soccer, Para Karate and Para Canoe.(NAN)
