NIGERIA affirmed its superiority at the ongoing Para Table Tennis championship holding in Ismailia, Egypt, as the 20-man team garnered seven gold medals yesterday from some of the events that have been concluded.The Coach Nosiru Bello-tutored side demystified the host team by winning gold medals in men's class seven, eight, nine and ten, while the women team won gold in class five, nine and 10 to the disappointment of the home fans.In the men's class ten, it was Olufemi Alabi that accounted for the gold after beating compatriot, Blessing Agu 3-0 in the final, while Victor Farinloye defeated his Egyptian counterpart to claim gold in the men's class seven.Also, Tunde Adisa overcame Tajudeen Agunbiade 3-2to win gold for the Nigeria male team to reign.Also, Commonwealth bronze medalist and team Nigeria captain to the 2010 Commonwealth Games in India, proved her worth when she beat compatriot, Philomena Konwea to win the gold medal in the women's class five. However, Commonwealth god medalist, Kate Oputa-Nwaka, narrowly lose to Konwea in the semifinal to settle for bronze in the category.In women's class five Kudirat Immamfulani won gold, while Memunat Habeeb also picked gold in class nine.According to Bello, the team has performed better than most of the team taking part in the championship.'We are doing well in the competition because the host, Egypt never expect what they saw but we are going to ensure that we dominate the championship and become overall winner of the championship,' he said.Bello added: 'It is indeed a tough competition because most of the countries taking part are not pushovers. But based on our build up before the competition, we are in good form to beat any team even as we are still on top of the medal table with Egypt winning only two gold medals so far in the championship, we are not doing badly and we hope to win more slots for the 2012 London Paralympic Games.'Egypt, South Africa, Morocco and Cote d'IvoireThe tournament is a Factor 50 event for ranking purposes; as per the norm Classes one to five are for wheelchair players, Classes six to 10 for standing athletes and Class 11 for those with an intellectual disability.Aside Obiora, other players representing Nigeria in the championship are Oluade Egbinola, Alabi, Adisa, Njoku Chinedu, Yusuf Wasiu, Farinloye, Agunbiade, Agu, Omoruyi Obaretin, Biola Adesope, Issau Ogunkunle, Konwea, Habeeb faith Obazuaye, Kehinde Lawal, Foluke Oluyemi and Immamfulani.
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