Paralympics: Nigeria’s Adesokan wins first gold, breaks World record

By Tony Ubani
The medal that eluded Team Nigeria during
the London 2012 Olympics came tumbling in
Thursday as Nigeria’s Paralympians begun
their quest for medals and also to redeem
the image of the country as a super power in
sports. Team Nigeria’s outing at the main
Olympics was colourless.
Yakubu Adesokan struck the goldmine
yesterday in a refreshing manner in
Powerlifting where he also sent the World
record crashing with his amazing 178 kg lift in his men’s 48 category which was over three
times his body weight.
Adesokan’s feat was celebrated by the country’s flagbearers in London Thursday as they
hoped to win more medals. And back home, it was a double joy for the country that watched
gleefully on television as the Falconets dumped Mexico 1-0 in a nail-biting quarter-final
thriller to berth into the semi-final of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup semi final.
Sports Minister and Chairman of National Sports Commission, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi
heaved a sigh of relief yesterday when the cherry news came and urged the Nigerian heros
and heroines not to relent in their efforts to win more medals.
”The Minister is happy with the feat of Yakubu Adesokan in winning the first gold for Nigeria
at the Paralympics and also over-joyed at his feat of breaking the World record. ”It is one
thing to win gold and another super feat to break the World record”, the Minister’s Special
Adviser on Media, Julius Ogunro quoted the Minister.
Adesokan was a full 10kg ahead of silver medallist Vladimir Balynedc of Russia, while Taha
Abdelmagid of Egypt claimed bronze with his 165kg effort.
Culled: Vanguard: