The President of Nigeria Para Powerlifting Federation (NPPF), Queen Uboh-Idris said the country is in danger of missing the 2020 Para Powerlifting World Cup despite been the host.
The Para Powerlifting World Cup comes up in the Federal Capital Territory between February 5 and February 7, 2020.
Uboh-Idris said Nigeria is yet to register any lifter and the deadline for athletes’ submission is in three days.
She said, “The ministry of youth and sports ought to have organised a trials from there we will select our representatives but nothing has been done.
“In the next three days, the portal for the registration of athletes who will represent the country will be closed. When the portal closes, that means Nigeria will host the world cup and be missing in action because we have not registered”.
She revealed that the country’s athletes are yet to resume camping exercise ahead of Tokyo 2020 Paralympics
Uboh-Idris said with the help of the First Lady, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Aisha Buhari; the federation was able to discover 45 junior lifters at a sponsored trials held in Abuja.
She said, “By the time we finish the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, we are already having replacement for the aging para powerlifters. The saddest thing is that we have not done trials for those who will represent us. When the athletes finished competing at the international championships in Kazakhstan, countries like Egypt, Iran, United Arab Emirate (UAE) all went to their various camp that has been in existence for the past five years.
“Three years ago, I received a call from the President of Ghana Para Powerlifting Federation reminding me of the camping exercise of his athletes in Nigeria; the funniest thing is that Nigeria is not in camp”.
She further said, “Due to the help of the first lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Aisha Buhari our chief host she sponsored the trials of the junior lifters held at the Moshood Abiola Stadium. The federation was able to discover 45 junior athletes that can fill in the shoes of the senior lifters”.
