Nigeria will be represented by nine athletes at the 2021 World Para Athletics Grand Prix series taking place in Tunis, Tunisia from March 18 to 20.
Following the postponement or cancellation of most international tournaments in 2020 due to the global pandemic, the World Para Athletics Grand Prix series returned in 2021 with six events scheduled to take place around the world from February to June, ahead of the Tokyo Paralympic Games.
The series kicked off with the Dubai Grand Prix held from February 10 to 13, while the Tunis International Meeting is the next event in the series and is in its 13th edition.
A 16-man contingent led by the President of Nigeria Para Athletics Federation Hon. Amobi Chikwendu, has arrived in Tunisia ahead of the competition starting on Thursday. The team also comprises nine athletes (six throwers, two sprinters and a jumper), secretary of the federation Amina Amanchi, two coaches, two medical personnel and a helper.
The athletes include Making of Champions sprinter Ifeanyi Christian (T46 100m/200m/ 400m), Commonwealth Games GOLD Medallist Galadima Suwaibidu (T47 100m/200m), Rio Paralympics GOLD Medallist Flora Ugwunwa (F54 Javelin/Discus/Shot put), Paralympics multiple medallist Njideka Iyiazi (F57 Discus/Shot put) and Emeka Kiyem (F57 Shotput/Javelin).
Others are Chituru Nwazuzu (F57 Discus), Ikechukwu Omenohor (F57 Shot put/Javelin), Goodness Nwachukwu (F57Shot put/Javelin/Discus) and Monsuru Adebayo, who is the only jumper on the team (T46 Long Jump). The Throws Coach for the team is Patrick Anaeto while the Coach for the track team is Adekunle Adesoji.
Nigeria was represented by four athletes at the 2019 edition of the Tunis Grand Prix, who won 10 medals – six GOLD, four Silver – at the end of the competition. Christian won GOLD in all his three events as Lauritta Onye scooped one GOLD and two Silver medals. Ugwunwa and Unyime Uwak each won a GOLD and Silver.
