Nigeria’s surge for medals at this year’s Paralympic Games in Tokyo, Japan received a jolt on Thursday, when one of the country’s favourites, Yakubu Adesokan’s best lift of 155kg in the men’s powerlifting -49kg fell short of any podium spot.
The 42-year-old Adeshokan, who won the competition’s -48kg at the London 2012 Games with a lift of 180kg, could only place fourth behind Parvin Mammadov of Azerbaijan.
Megasportsaena.com reports htat, while Adesokan fell short of all expectations, his Azerbaijani rival lifted 156kg to finish third and claim the bronze medal.
It was a disappointing effort for the world Para Powerlifting champion, who only arrived in Tokyo on Wednesday night to light up Nigeria’s camp in expectation of an early entry on the medals table.
The London 2012 Paralympic and 2014 World Para Powerlifting Championships gold medalist was world favourite for gold in Tokyo, going by his record 180kg lift.
However, he did not arrive early with the Nigerian delegation on August 14 and 21, but he was still tipped to clinch the gold medal he lost at Rio 2016, when he missed his way to the competition venue and arrived too late for the contest.
Sadly, another nightmare hit Adesokan, as Omar Qarada of Jordan won the prestigious gold medal after lifting 173kg, ahead of le van Cong of Vietnam, who also lifted 173kg but was awarded silver.
Also on Thursday in Tokyo, Tajudeen Agunbiade got his first win in the table tennis event, as he defeated Yi Qing Zhao of China 3-2 (11-7 11-5 7-11 6-11 11-5 ) in Group B Class 9 at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium.
Same day, Isau Ogunkunle lost 3-2, Maxime Thomas of France, in their group Class 4. He lost 11-8 5-11 13-11 6-11 7-11 in a group F of e men’s singles Class 4.
Olufemi Alabi lost 0-3 (9-11 8-11 6-11) to Joel Coughlan of Australia in a Class 10 Group C action, while Faith Obazuaye also lost 0-3 (6-11 5-11 9-11) to Xiaojing Zhao of China in women’s singles in class 10 Group C.
Ogunkunle Isau also went on to lose 1-3 (7-11 7-11 11-7 9-11) to Mohammed Saleh in Egypt in class 4 Group C of the Games, which is scheduled to end on September 5.
