Yea, we made it at last. Two sparkling gold medals, and another record broken, belatedly though, at the on-going Olympics from the Women’s Shot Put (F54) and the Powerlifting events.
Yesterday, two of Nigerian contingents in the Paralympics at Beijing won two gold medals and written the country’s name on the record books.

I did not see the events. I suspect that NEPA - sorry PHCN - have finally stopped having mercy on we followers of the sports and decided to “hold” onto power for these days. I don’t even know whether the NTA sports studios are linked to the events. Thus it’s been long since I watched the television. However, here is how This Day reports it today:

The first gold came courtesy of a superlative performance by Ruel Ishaku, who lifted 169 kilogrammes to break both the world record of Wu Guoying of China set in the Men’s 48kg category at the 2007 National Games in Kunming, China, and the Paralympics record of Anthony Peddle of Great Britain set at the 2000 Sydney Paralympic Games.”

Nigeria’s second gold medal was won by Eucharia Njideka Iyiazi in the Women’s F54 Shot Put event. The 25-year-old athlete heaved a distance of 10.96m to win the gold and earned for her self a new world record. Mexican athlete Angeles Ortiz (10.94m) and Nadia Medjemedj (10.93m) of Algeria settled for the silver and bronze medals respectively.

It continues on another note of hope: “Also yesterday, Nigeria’s hope for more medals brightened with the qualification of Adesoji Adekunle, world record holder in the (T12) event of the 100m for today’s final scheduled for the Birds’ Nest.

Although Adekunle’s chances for the gold appeared threatened with the good races posted by American Jamison (10.90secs) and Yang Yuqing (10.95secs) who bettered the world record holder in the other two semi finals concluded late last night. Adekunle won the first semi final in 11.00 secs.”

With these, we can at least boast that we didn’t go to Beijing only to clap and cheer the others to glory. That said, it shall be asked nevertheless why our able-bodied athletes could not perform this good. After all, it is the same country.