RIO 2016 PARALYMPICS: World record holder, Adesokan misses event

NIGERIA’S dream to win first gold medal at the ongoing Rio 2016 Paralympics through world record holder, Yakubu Adesokan was dashed as the lifter missed the men’s -49kg powerlifting event held on Thursday evening.

Adesokan, who spoke with ‘Loripapa on Fresh FM’ a local radio sports programme, said he missed the chance to defend the gold he won four years ago in London, due to his late arrival at the event’s venue for screening.

He stated that there was a squabble among two of his coaches which delayed their movement from the Games Village to the Riocentro, Pavilion 2.

“It was an unfortunate incident, we arrived late at the venue and I was not allowed to undergo weighing before the event. We tried to explain but they didn’t allow me to take part in the exercise.

“In fact, I was so shell-shocked that I almost run into a moving vehicle after I was disqualified. It is something unbearable for me because I never imagined this kind of unfortunate incident in my career,” Adesokan was quoted as saying.

The Oyo State-born lifter, who reclaimed his world record title at the 2015 All Africa Games in Congo Brazzaville with a lift of 182.5kg, said he was better prepared for the Rio 2016 even than London 2012 Paralympics where he first set the world record with a lift of 180kg.

Meanwhile, Adesokan’s world record (182.5kg) remains intact despite his inability to compete at Rio 2016, as the winner of the men’s -49kg event, Le van Cong of Vitenam claimed the gold with a lift of 181kg.

Qarada Omar of Jordan won the silver medal with a lift of 177kg while, Tunkel Nandor of Hungary settled for the bronze medal.