Tokyo Paralympics: Nigeria target Africa’s best performance -Ishaku

President, Nigeria Paralympic Committee (NPC), Ruel Ishaku, has promised to deliver the best African performance at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games which kicks off officially today.

The Nigerian contingent led by Lucy Ejike arrived at the Games Village on Sunday from their Kizarazu camp in readiness for Games.

Ishaku told Sportingtribune at his hotel room in Tokyo on Monday that the athletes are well-prepared to win gold medals and create new records in their various events.

ALSO READ:  Tokyo 2020 Paralympics: Team Nigeria moves to Games Village

“I don’t have any doubt about the abilities of our athletes, they are in high spirits, they have prepared well for the Games and we are hoping for the best.

“At the Rio 2016 Games, we had about 14 athletes but now we have nine but by the grace of God, we are going to achieve success. Many people back home count on us for medals, but we are determined too to break records at the Games. If we are talking about medals we are talking about gold medals,” Ishaku told Sportingtribune.

Nigeria recorded their best performance at Rio 2016, finishing as Africa’s best team and also as 17th in the world on the medals table with eight gold, two silver, and two bronze medals.

ALSO READ:  Tokyo 2020 Paralympics: Team Nigeria moves to Games Village

Meanwhile, information gathered by Tribunesport during its brief visit to the Games Village on Monday revealed that only six athletes would represent the country during the opening ceremony scheduled to hold at Olympic Stadium, Tokyo today.

This development was as a result of the Games organisers’ decision to reduce the number of athletes and officials to the venue as a result of COVID-19 challenge.