Nigeria to field 60 athletes as Lagos hosts Para Powerlifting Championships

Nigeria will be represented by 60 athletes at the International Para Powerlifting Championships billed to hold in Lagos.

Queen Uboh, president of Nigeria Para Powerlifting Federation (NPPF), says the competition will take place from January 24 to 31.

Uboh said Nigeria has the best para powerlifters in the world and will cart home most of the medals from the competition.

“The Nigerian athletes, considered the best para powerlifters all over the world reported to camp on the 3rd of January and are in serious training,” Uboh said.

“The other day in camp they were training vigorously and I asked why they were so bent on winning and they said because the world was coming to Nigeria, our soil. My people are ready to make Nigeria proud.

“So far, 10 countries are attending the competition.”

One of the para powerlifters expected to do Nigeria proud is Lucy Ejike, who is touted as one of the top five stars to watch out for in 2019.

Ejike currently holds the world mark of 142kg which she set at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Brazil.

She also cleared the bar at 131kg to win gold at the 2018 African Championships.

The competition has the backing of FrieslandCampina Wamco, makers of Peak milk, Heritage Bank, Total Nigeria Plc, Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), AirFrance, KLM Airline, Ginklat Capsule, and the Lagos state government.