UMUAHIA – Athletes with disabilities in Abia have appealed to Gov. Theodore Orji to sponsor their participation in the 10th International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports Junior Games in London.
They also appealed to corporate organisations and individuals in the state to sponsor them to the tournament which will be held from Aug. 2 to Aug. 8.
Sam Ekeoma, the chairman of the Abia State Physically-Challenged Sports Club, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Umuahia on Sunday.
He said the Paralympic Committee of Nigeria had selected the Abia team to represent Nigeria in the tournament.
Ekeoma said: “The team has started training for the tournament and it needs sponsorship; if we have the sponsorship to participate in the games, we will win laurel,’’ he said.
According to him, Abia para-sports athletes have always excelled in local and international competitions and that the forthcoming tournament will not be an exception.
“Abia has never failed to participate in international competitions and Gov. Theodore Orji and his wife have great confidence in the physically-challenged athletes in the state,’’ he said.
He recalled that the state contingent to the 2012 Paralympic Games won three out of the five silver medals for Nigeria.
The chairman further explained that the Abia team to the just-concluded National Youth Games in Abuja won gold medals, observing that new talents were also discovered during the competition.
Also, Monday Emoghavwe, President, Paralympic Committee of Nigeria, appealed to the governor to assist in sponsoring the athletes to the tournament.
In a letter to the governor, Emoghavwe stated that the participation of the Abia team would showcase the abundant talents at the grassroots.’’ (NAN)
