Tokyo Paralympics golden girl Latifat Tijani has appealed to Nigeria government and the private sector to help her revive her hairdressing business back in Nigeria.

Tijani put Team Nigeria on the medal table at the on-going 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo yesterday by winning the women’s 45kg event of the powerlifting competition.

The 39-year-old  indigene of Ogun State  had the best lift of 107kg to rank first and win the competition’s gold medal at the Tokyo International Forum.

Speaking to the media after her win, the Rio 2016 silver medallist admitted that the coronavirus pandemic seriously affected her training schedule and also her business as a hairdresser.

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“I needed to focus on both my business as a hairdresser and sports,” Tijani said. “It was very difficult because my business went down during the global pandemic.

“We were in camp for three months before the Games and while our time there really helped us a lot judging from our recent performances, my business was affected as the lockdown stopped a lot of my customers from patronising my shop.”

“I would appreciate it if the government and corporate sector help me to revive my business because one day I will retire and have to go back to my hairdressing business.” Tijani appealed.Tijani had failed in her first attempt at 105kg but went on to lift it at the second attempt. She then went on to lift 107kg in the third attempt, which was just one kg short of the Paralympic record set by Hu Dandan of China at the Rio Games.