On the seventh day of the Paris Paralympics, Team Nigeria competed in Para-Table Tennis,
Para Powerlifting, and Para Athletics, ending the day with a podium finish in Para Powerlifting.
In women’s Para-Powerlifting (Up to 41 kg), Nigeria’s Esther Nworgu started her first lift at 106kg, the second heaviest weight of the competition, with China’s Zhe Cui going for 108kg.
Nworgu took the lead early and pushed herself further with a 112 kg lift on her second attempt. She set a new Paralympic Record twice in a row, finishing with an impressive 118kg lift on her third attempt.
Despite this achievement, Zhe Cui claimed GOLD with a 119kg lift, leaving Nworgu with the Silver medal but with two record-breaking lifts.
Meanwhile, Isau Ogunkunle continued his strong performance in men’s Singles Class 4
Para-Table Tennis, advancing to the semifinals. He faced Frenchman Maxime Thomas, a triple
Paralympic Bronmedalistlist, and came back from a set down to win 3-1 (9-11, 11-5, 11-9, 11-6).
This win marked Ogunkunle’s second triumph against a top-seeded player in the tournament,
following his victory over the World No.3. Having never advanced past the quarterfinals
before, Ogunkunle is now set to play his first-ever Paralympic semifinal.
In Para Athletics, Hannah Babalola gave her all in the women’s 100m T54 heat, finishing 6th with a time of 17.39s. Although she had a slow start, Babalola fought hard to finish
the race, while USA’s Tatyana McFadden won with a new Paralympic Record of 15.55s.
