Nigeria’s Flora Ugwunwa claimed a silver medal in the Women’s Javelin F54 event at the ongoing Paralympic Games in Paris, with an impressive throw of 19.26m.
This victory marks Nigeria’s first medal in Para-Athletics at these Games, showcasing the nation’s continued success on the international stage.
At 40, Ugwunwa has once again proven her consistency, securing her third consecutive Paralympic medal. She previously won gold at both the Rio and Tokyo Games and now adds a silver from Paris to her collection.
Her accomplishment follows Onyinyechi Mark’s gold medal triumph in Para-Powerlifting, where she set a new World Record by lifting 147kg.
In another positive development for Nigeria, Isau Ogunkunle earned a bronze medal in Para-Table Tennis. Despite losing his semifinal match to South Korea’s Young-Gun Kim, Ogunkunle’s strong performance secured Nigeria’s fifth overall medal: 1 gold, 2 silver, and 2 bronze.
Earlier in the Games, Esther Nworgu took home silver in the women’s up to 41kg Para-Powerlifting category, setting two new Paralympic records in the process.
Nigeria’s first medal at these Paralympic Games came from Eniola Bolaji, who made history as the first African to win a medal in Badminton at either the Olympic or Paralympic Games, defeating her Ukrainian opponent in straight sets.
The Nigerian Paralympic team’s impressive medal haul has been a source of inspiration, particularly following the country’s setbacks at the Olympic Games and the recent World U-20 Athletics Championships in Lima.