Leading player in the oil and gas sector, Total Nigeria will be powering the 2019 edition of the World Para Powerlifting Championship.
Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Guniea, Central African Republic, Tanzania and host nation Nigeria makes the list of seven African nations that will be participating at this year’s World Para Powerlifting championship taking place in Lagos, between 28 and 30 January
Speaking at opening ceremony to herald the commencement of competition, Nicolas Terraz, Country Chairman, Total Nigeria said Total is proud to be part of Powerlifting Sports in Nigeria
“Total is delighted to support the hosting of the 2019 Para powerlifting competition because the ideals of para sports are very much aligned to Total’s vision of diverse and inclusive societies where everyone is enabled to contribute.”
Eighty athletes from seven African countries will be competing for laurels.
“We are really excited to welcome all the athletes from various parts of the world. It is always a great delight to see people from all over the world assembled in one place and sharing the same passion for sport. The energy, the enthusiasm, the friendships, the solidarity, the triumphs, the celebrations and even the defeats pay tribute to our shared humanity and the greatness we can achieve when we come together as a team! I salute your great efforts and achievements in this sport.”
London 2012 champion Yakubu Adesokan is the top candidate in the men’s up to 49kg. The 39-year-old took gold at last year’s African Championships.
Three-time Paralympic gold medallist Lucy Ejike will be another to look out for in the women’s up to 61kg after she took the continental title in Algiers, Algeria, in 2018.
Eyes will be on Rio 2016 champions Roland Ezuruike (men’s up to 54kg), Paul Kehinde (men’s up to 65kg) and Bose Omolayo (women’s up to 79kg).
“No one will defeat me in front of my home crowd,” Ezuruike said in an interview with ACLSports.
“I am not only ready for the competition but motivated to set a record in my father’s land. We have been travelling round the world winning medals; this is the right time to replicate such feat.”
London 2012 gold medallist Esther Oyema (women’s up to 55kg) is confident of further success in Lagos.
The women’s over 86kg will arguably be the most exciting event of all with two Paralympic champions colliding. London 2012 gold medallist Loveline Obiji will face Rio 2016 champion and world record holder Josephine Orji.
The competition kick off on Monday with the women’s up to 41kg, up to 45kg, up to 50kg and up to 55kg, as well as the men’s up to 49kg.
Anthony Nlebem
