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Tag: paralympics

  • Nasiru Sule: Meet player-coach behind Nigeria’s march to Paris Paralympics

    Nasiru Sule: Meet player-coach behind Nigeria’s march to Paris Paralympics

    Nasiru Sule, 56, is one of the pioneer para table tennis athletes who debuted for Nigeria at the 1991 All Africa Games in Egypt. At that first outing, Sule bagged three gold and one bronze medals. From 1991 till date, Sule has featured in four Paralympic Games with a bronze medal to show for his efforts at Atlanta ‘96. As a member of the team to the just-concluded ITTF African Para Championships in Egypt, Sule believes that with better support for para table tennis, the country can win more medals at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games in France, OLALEKAN OKUSAN writes.

    Nasiru Sule contracted polio at a tender age, hence his physical challenge. However, it was not enough to stop a highly determined Sule whose passion for table tennis was there for all to see as a primary school pupil. Such was his talent that Sule became champion at Jamaat Islamiyah Primary School on Lagos Island in the late 1980s.

    From being a school champion, Sule rose to become national and continental champion.

    Today, Sule is a player-coach and his role in the qualification of nine Nigerian Paralympians to the Paris 2024 Games at the just-concluded 2023 ITTF African Para Championships held in Egypt cannot be overemphasised.

    As player-coach he was the toast of the players in Egypt and his inspirational performance inspired the likes of Isau Ogunkunle and a host of others.

    “When I started table tennis, it was not intentional as I just wanted something that would give me a chance to dissipate my energy due to my challenge,” Sule recalled his humble beginning.

    “On the Lagos Island then, table tennis was very popular, and I started playing the game on the street. When I got to school, I became one of the star players at Jamaat Islamiyah Primary School.

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    “People wondered how I was able to compete well with able athletes. My parents were not against my decision to play table tennis as the victories that accompanied my participation became the talk of the town,” Sule revealed.

    Sule, a certified Level 2 ITTF coach cum international umpire, said his first stint with the national team in 1991 galvanised him to the top of the sport.

    “Since I made the national team in 1991, I have been part of the team to several international tournaments, including four Paralympic Games and several continental tournaments. Despite the little attention paid to the sport, we have been able to win several medals for the country. And for me, I earn my living through table tennis. Even now I am into table tennis equipment; my life revolves around the sport,” he said.

    Apart from the many laurels which the sport has showered on Sule, the 2003 African Games medalist said meeting Nigerians Presidents also served as a source of joy in his career.

    “I could not have imagined that I would be meeting the Presidents of Nigeria when I started playing. My first meeting with a Nigerian President was after my bronze medal feat at the Atlanta 1996 Paralympic Games. We were hosted by then the Head of State, Gen. Sanni Abacha. It was a big moment for me when I shook hands with him. Not everybody has such an opportunity but through table tennis I was able to meet the President of Nigeria,” Sule disclosed.

    The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games silver medalist added: “The second most memorable moment was meeting President Muhammad Buhari after our performance in Birmingham. This was another moment I would forever cherish because we were hosted by the President and treated to a lavish reception in Abuja. This is what every athlete desires and I am happy that I have been able to achieve this, and my life has changed for the better.”

    For his bronze medal feat at Atlanta 1996, Sule was conferred with the national honour of Member of the Order of Niger (MON).

     “I am also grateful that through table tennis, I have the privilege of being conferred with a national honour by General Abacha. I am one of the few para-athletes with such honour in the country,” Sule said.

    Besides the honour and fame that table tennis has brought Sule’s way, the former African champion said the game has given him a lot more: “When I started playing table tennis, I realised that my life changed for the better. It gave my life a new, better direction and I was able to pick some virtues through the sport. These include discipline, respect and responsibility.

    “Table tennis is more than a game. Health-wise, it has helped me to be active despite my challenges. Being the fastest sport in the world, table tennis has helped my mental alertness. It makes me think fast and make the right decisions. I don’t regret taking up table tennis because it has given me all life could offer. I am happily married and fending for my family through the sport,” Sule stressed.

    Following the feat achieved by Nigeria at the just-concluded ITTF African Para Championships, the 56-year-old believed more support should be given to the players as the team has the potential to dominate the continent and conquer the world at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games in France.

    His words: “I have been part of the team to several continental tournaments which served as qualification to the Paralympic Games. This is the best performance we ever had. This is the first time we qualified more players for the Paralympic Games.

    “The highest number before was at Sydney 2000 when we had seven athletes qualifying. But now, we have nine making it to Paris 2024. I have confidence in this team. With enough preparation coupled with support for the athletes, they can win more medals than our previous outings. We have never won a gold medal in table tennis at the Paralympic Games, but this team has the quality to break the jinx and win gold medals.”

    Sule disclosed that he took to coaching the game because he “wanted to impart the knowledge I had acquired in the sport into the upcoming players and I am doing this while also playing. But I am ready to take up the gauntlet of leading this team to the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games if given the chance and opportunity as experience counts a lot.”

    Apart from playing and coaching, Sule is also into officiating.

    On why he added umpiring to his involvement as player-coach, Sule said: “I love table tennis and I wanted to ensure my life revolved around it. This inspired me to want to know every aspect of the sport. As a player, knowing the rules of the game coupled with understanding the tactics have helped me to stay long in the sport as well as become one of the most respected players in Africa. I don’t regret taking up table tennis because it has given me more than I wanted in life. I have travelled around the world and met several dignitaries, including two Nigerian Presidents. I thank God for using the sport to turn my life around positively.”

  • Paralympics: Powerlifter Onyema wins silver for Nigeria

    Paralympics: Powerlifter Onyema wins silver for Nigeria

    •Takes medal haul to three

    ESTHER Onyema increased Team Nigeria’s medal tally to three at the ongoing 2016 Paralympic Games, winning Silver in the women’s -55kg Powerlifting event on Saturday.

    The former champion came very close to winning gold but lost out in the battle of mind games as her Mexican counterpart, Amalia Perez outfoxed her to take the win lifting a World Record (WR) and also a Paralympic Record (PR) of 130kg. Onyema on her part finished 2nd with 127kg, while China’s Cuijian Xiao won Bronze lifting 115kg.

    Knowing her capability and also gunning for her own WR, Onyema opted to enter the competition at 127kg, while other lifters started with less. However it was not as straight forward as she would have anticipated as she failed in her first attempt at that weight.

    Onyema cleanly got the mark in her second attempt which was a then WR and PR, taking her up to first position ahead of other competitors.

    However Perez had other ideas. Having initially lifted 120kg which saw her lead at a point Perez had to work another tactics, ditching the 128kg she wanted to go for as she asked for 130kg.

    Her Nigerian counterpart followed suit and also requested for 130kg, but it was Perez who lifted her way to glory, smashing Onyema’s WR and PR feat to secure the win.

    It was a gallant effort by the Nigerian athlete as she came from no score in her first attempt to secure silver with just one valid lift. This brings Nigeria’s medal haul at the Paralympics to three: one gold and two silver medals.

  • Africa Para Table Tennis Championship: Obiora, Koleosho qualify for Rio 2016 Paralympics Games

    Africa Para Table Tennis Championship: Obiora, Koleosho qualify for Rio 2016 Paralympics Games

     

    Nigeria’s Ahmed Owolabi Koleosho and Chinenye Obiora have joined the list of athletes that will compete in the para table tennis event at the Rio 2016 Paralympics Games.

    Obiora was unbeaten in the women’s singles class 1-5 to emerge as winner ahead of players from Morocco and South Africa. The winner in each category gets an automatic ticket to the Paralympics Games.

    Unlike Obiora, Koleosho had to cause an upset to book his place at the Paralympics Games.  He accounted for Egypt’s Aly Mohamen Nasr, the top seed, in the final of Class 1-3 (11-8, 11-6, 11-7).

    An excited Koleosho said: “It is great to win when I was the second seed in the competition, it is a great step for me, I trained hard for this and I listened to every word my coach said. I practice for about four hours per day, in the final I was playing against a champion who is a very experienced player; I am new to the game, I only started to play in 2013.”

    The Nigerian admitted that the experience he garnered during the Morocco Open aided his success at the African Championship.  It is very big for me to qualify for the Paralympics; playing in the Morocco Open has really helped me improve, I lost to Welder Knaf from Brazil, he is very experienced but I learned a great deal by playing against him”, added Koleosho. “After the match he talked to me after little things which improved my game; before the tournaments in Agadir, we prepared in Nigeria against different players with various styles, this helped.”

    However, the duo of Francis Chukwuemeka and Emmanuel Chinedu Nick were unlucky in their categories as they failed to qualify for the Paralympics Games.

    Meanwhile, the President of African Table Tennis Federation (ATTF), Khaled El-Salhy described the tournament as competitive. The standard is quite good due to the participation of the top teams like Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa and the competition was quite fierce when during the semi-finals and final rounds to decide the winners and qualifiers,” the ATTF boss said.

  • ‘President, NSC rewards tonic for 2016 Paralympics’

    ‘President, NSC rewards tonic for 2016 Paralympics’

    MONDAY Emoghavwe, the President, Paralympic Committee of Nigeria, has predicted that the country would win more medals at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.

    Emoghavwe made the prediction while reacting to the honour bestowed on the athletes who won Gold at the 2012 London Paralympic Games by President Goodluck Jonathan. He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the gesture was adequate from what happened in the past.

    “The disabled sports has never had it so good and the non-recognition of disabled athletes by Nigeria’s past leaders was enough to dampen one’s spirit towards participating in sports in the country,’’ he said.

    Emoghavwe said that following Mr President’s gesture the committee would have no option than to surpass the London achievements in the 2016 games.

    “To whom much is given, much is expected. I remember vividly when a former president said we should come and receive a golden handshake, when our counterpart in China we performed better than, were given $10 million, and a house each.

    “Then, we came back and many Nigerians did not even know that we travelled for the Paralympic games.

    “We are so happy that President Jonathan rewarded us, and he made us proud when he said that we were worthy of emulation,’’ Emoghavwe said.

    The three-time paralympic gold medalist said that apart from the presidential awards, the cash reward by the National Sports Commission (NSC) was another source of motivation for the athletes ahead of the Rio games.

    NAN recalls that earlier, the NSC had given each paralympic gold medalist, $7,500; silver medalist $5,000, while each bronze medalist received $2,500.

    Emoghavwe commended the NSC leadership for its support, saying that it would ginger them to do more.

    “It was only in 2000 Commonwealth Games in Manchester that we were selected to be given winning bonuses and currently, the minister has extended it. There were loads of challenges in terms of finance and technical input, but I just thank God that our travelling to South Korea for a training tour boosted our performance.

    “You get a better result when you move an athlete out of his country to where he will focus very well and we were able to manage the challenges with the help of the minister who deemed it fit to send us on a training tour,” he added.

    NAN reports that Emoghavwe has won gold for the country in power-lifting in three paralympic games.

    His first attempt was at the 1992 Barcelona games when he lifted 48kg. He also finished top of the 60kg and 67.5kg categories at the 1996Atlanta Olympics and 2000 Sydney games respectively.

  • Paralympics heroes

    I watched far less of the London 2012 Paralympics (held August 29 – September 9) than the Olympics (July 27 – August 12). In fact, the only Paralympics sport I watched was the Power Lifting event won by Loveline Obiji, one of Nigeria’s six gold medalists.

    This was not deliberate. I watched more of the Olympics because of the huge air time devoted to the games. When I had the time to look up from the computer screen at the television at work or after getting home at night, the games were on, some events repeated over and over again, even though it was not our athletes doing the winning. The Paralympics did not enjoy such devotion. I presume our local television stations could not ‘waste’ their precious air-time showing the games.

    In the past two games, our Olympians have been unable to perform while our ‘Paralympians’ have repeatedly won medals despite being paid less attention, getting less funding and receiving less honour. In London 2012, the Paralympians won six gold, five silver and two bronze medals. I do not have to repeat that our Olympians won none.

    Ironically, I watched Maryam Usman lose a medal in the Olympics weightlifting event (160kg category) while I watched Obiji win gold in the Paralympics Power Lifting event (82.50kg).

    Obiji’s win was touching. She rolled on the floor over and over again. If she could walk, I am sure she would have jumped around. After she received her medal and the Nigerian national anthem finished playing, she lifted both hands high above her head with her eyes closed probably offering silent prayers of thanks to the Almighty for crowning her efforts with success.

    Had she participated in the Olympics instead and won a medal, I am sure the number of Nigerians who would have watched and commented on her victory would have been many times higher. I am sure many would have shed emotional joyous tears for the coveted gold medal. But that was not the case.

    We were not really surprised that our Olympians did not perform. We knew they were not well prepared; we suspected the funding was likely inadequate; we guessed the technical expertise of their trainers could have been better. It was not really their fault. Or was it?

    But with their consistency in delivering good results, we should start asking how our physically-challenged athletes are able to win medals when it is not likely that their operational environment is more favourable than their able-bodied counterparts.

    It is only logical that since they are doing so well, the government should invest more in them. Like the biblical vine and branches, they should be pruned so they can become even more fruitful. I know many of the athletes with complete limbs who are educated get sports scholarships. Such scheme should be made readily available to the challenged athletes. Channeling their energies into sports is a way for them to take control of their lives. It is a way to take them off the streets.

    Many of the physically-challenged among us are deprived of quality education and even decent family lives. If they come from less privileged backgrounds, their chances of doing better than begging on the streets are very small. If they come from good families that fail to look beyond their physical disability, they are relegated to the background and not given educational opportunities that other members of the family get.

    It is time for the government to initiate policies to harness their potential given that they have the talent, determination and will to succeed if they are well trained. Sports academies should be established that focus on discovering their talents from their youths or rehabilitating them from when they have accidents so they can contribute their quota to society.

    The performance by our Paralympians is a demonstration that nobody is useless. Parents who have such children should learn from this and encourage them to be their best, whether in sports, academics or other laudable vocations. Schools should also go beyond just accommodating challenged children in the classrooms. They should be involved in all kinds of activities that can exploit their innate talents and make them proud of, and not sorry for themselves.

  • ‘Forget disability, we are concentrating on ability’

    The eyes of the world have been transfixed on the Paralympic Games in London for the last few weeks but closer to home people from Derry, Foreglen and Strabane have been taking part in wheelchair basketball for the last year and a half.

    The North West Eagles were founded after charity S.H.I.N.E. (Spina bifida, Hydrocephalus, Information, Networking, Equality) secured funding from the Big Lottery Fund to form a wheelchair basketball group in Derry last year.

    Although the Eagles operate under the umbrella of S.H.I.N.E., the group have members with a variety of disabilities and impairments. The group is open to anyone who uses a wheelchair.

    Experienced basketball coach, Steve McCrudden, is the Eagles’ head coach and the group currently boast close to 20 members with the youngest being 11 years-old and the oldest being 48.

    Perpetua O’Driscoll, (Derry), Elaine Brolly (Foreglen) and Geraldine McGarrigle (Strabane) did not know one another and had never played wheelchair basketball before they joined the Eagles last year.

    Perpetua, 33, was born with spina bifida and said that despite the fantastic time she has had with the Eagles, she believes that more could be done to provide wheelchair users with better opportunities.

    “I have been a member of S.H.I.N.E. for over 20 years and the support they have given myself and my family has been unbelievable,” she said.

    “But that’s not the case for all disabled people and wheelchair users. A lot of people out there feel isolated and never get the chance to experience the support that something like wheelchair basketball offers.

    “I didn’t really know anyone in the group before I started playing but soon after joining it started to become a great place to meet up with people who were going through the exact same as me.”

    Perpetua said that in light of the recent television coverage of the Paralympic Games in London, she believes that the perception of disabilities and wheelchairs has shifted.

    “People can’t help but be inspired when they watch athletes like Jason Smyth [Stargardt disease] or Oscar Pistorius [double leg amputee] compete in the Parlympic Games.

    “I definitely think that whilst more could be done, the Games have helped to elevate disabled athletes and challenge perceptions and promote inclusivity.

    “At the Eagles we want to forget about disability and concentrate on ability. It’s all about helping one another. Some are better than others but like most sports, it’s a team game.”

    Elaine, 23, joined the Eagles at around the same time as Perpetua and Geraldine. Elaine was also born with spina bifida but unlike Perpetua and Geraldine she also has hydrocephalus (water in the brain).

    “Before I got involved with the Eagles I only knew two other people who had spina bifida and hydrocephalus,” she said.
    “Getting involved with the Eagles has helped me to be much more open about my disability whereas before, I didn’t like talking about it to anyone but now, I find talking about it helps.

    “I’d never tried any sort of exercise never mind wheelchair basketball before I joined the Eagles and to be honest I found it very hard at the start but I stuck with it.

    “Sometimes, things come up and I’ll miss a training session. I hate when it happens because I enjoy the sessions so much that when I can’t make it, I really feel like I have missed out.

    “At the start all I wanted to learn was the basics and wasn’t that fussed about playing but now I, along with many of the others in group, just want to compete,” smiled Elaine.

    Geraldine, 48, is the oldest member of the Eagles and said that although she has nothing but praise for head coach Steve McCrudden and S.H.I.N.E., she would like to see local politicians do more for people with disabilities and wheelchair users. Geraldine also has spina bifida.

    “Joining the Eagles is perhaps one of the best things I have ever done. I know I am probably old enough to be some of the other members’ mother but it doesn’t stop me from playing, getting involved and enjoying myself,” she laughed.

    “The sense of friendship and encouragement within the group is like nothing I have ever experienced before.
    “We get a lot of support through S.H.I.N.E. and our head coach Steve McCrudden is an inspiration but like Perpetua and Elaine, I also think that more should be done to make sport more accessible for people in wheelchairs and those who are disabled.

    “I was born with spina bifida but it wasn’t until I was 21 years-old that I had to start using a wheelchair for certain things.
    “Before I started using my wheelchair I would have played netball at school so from that time to last year I wasn’t really able to do any sort of exercise – I didn’t have an outlet for it.

    “When I heard about the Eagles I decided to give it a go and I haven’t looked back since. Although I am still learning the basics, I have to say that I am loving wheelchair basketball – it’s so much fun.”

    Steve McCrudden has been playing and coaching basketball for the best part of 15 years. Steve worked for S.H.I.N.E. before taking up his permanent post as head coach of the Eagles.

    “I am completely hooked on wheelchair basketball,” said Steve passionately.
    “If anyone needed any convincing all they needed to do was watch some of it when it was on during the Paralympic Games – it was top class.”

    Steve explained that the funding securing by S.H.I.N.E. from the Big Lottery Fund allows the Eagles to host training sessions for youths and adults every second Saturday.

    However, Steve said that the Eagles have generated so much interest that the group have set up their own committee with the view to raising enough money of their own which would hopefully enable them to train on a weekly basis and buy more equipment.

    “None of this would be possible if it wasn’t for the help and support of S.H.I.N.E. and the Big Lottery Fund.
    “The staff at Magee have also been really supportive. I approached them last year and talked to them about get funding to buy 10 specially designed sports wheelchairs. These chairs cost £1,000 each and Magee agreed to buy them.

    “Our members make use of the chairs every few weeks when they train but it also means that any wheelchair users who study at Magee can also avail of them when they need to. It’s all about making sport as accessible as possible to people in wheelchairs.”

    He added: “The funding we get from the Big Lottery Fund is enough for us to put on training sessions in the main sports hall at Magee every two weeks but the group want to meet up more regularly therefore they set-up a committee.”
    Perpetua is committee chairperson, Elaine is the treasurer whilst Geraldine is the group’s Public Relations Officer (P.R.O.).

    “It’s up to the committee now to come up with ideas of how we can make training more regular.”
    The Eagles are barely 18 months old and already Perpetua, Elaine and Geraldine have their sights set on attracting more new members, competing against other groups and ultimately helping other wheelchair users to realise the benefits of getting involved in sport.

    “I really hated it at the start,” said Perpetua.

    “I hated training and found it really, really tough but once you get past it, things get better.

    “When I am not busy playing basketball with the rest of the Eagles, I park my car at Sainsbury’s and go in my wheelchair the whole way up to the Peace Bridge and back again. It’s tough at times but when I do it I feel great.”

    She continued: “I would advise anyone who’s in a wheelchair to give basketball a go. Not only is it a good way to get fit and feel good it’s also a great way of meeting new people and making friends – I have lost count of the amount of times myself and Elaine have spent chatting when we should be playing basketball,” she laughed.

    “I am using muscles that I never knew I even had,” smiled Elaine.

    “I found it hard in the beginning but my life has changed forever by sticking with it. There’s a great bunch of people within the group and I would tell anyone reading this article who uses a wheelchair to get in contact with us and maybe give the sport a go – what’s the worst that could happen?”

    Geraldine said that it’s the group’s dream to move towards competing in an All-Ireland league within the next two years and added that she would be delighted if more people were to show an interest in the sport.

    “There are a few other wheelchair basketball teams throughout Ireland and it would be our dream to compete in the Irish League within the next few years.

    “In the beginning it was all about participation but as confidence grows we want to compete and we want to win matches,” she grinned.