Ladies’s 100m gold medalist within the T11 occasion on the 1st West Africa Para-Video games in Abeokuta, Taiwo Ruqiyat Sulaiman has appealed for higher help of visually challenged athletes like herself.
Sports247 reviews that, whereas explaining that T11 stands for ‘completely blind feminine athlete on the monitor,’ Sulaiman confessed that the duty of showcasing her expertise has not been simple.
She, nonetheless, expressed optimism that the gold medal she received on Wednesday in The Rock Metropolis will open massive doorways of alternative for her.
“This gold medal means so much to me as a result of it could possibly convey extra alternatives for me. It additionally provides me extra boldness, braveness, and confidence.
“It provides me further willpower and encouragement to maintain on aiming for higher issues forward of me,” Sulaiman disclosed.
The excited athlete additionally revealed that, earlier than becoming a member of the Nigerian workforce to Abeokuta for the video games, she put all her belief in God to information her in the direction of a exceptional achievement, which she is blissful to have gained.
“I all the time imagine that every one energy belongs to God, and I believed earlier than coming right here that He won’t forsake me.
“I’m blissful that He didn’t forsake me. He topped my efforts with this gold medal,” Sulaiman rejoiced.
She then turned her give attention to the usual of the competitors and praised the organisers for doing a great job however charged them to do significantly better subsequent day trip.
Sulaiman added, “The competitors was great and really good, however I imagine the following one will likely be higher than this. As for me personally, my subsequent goal is to be on the Commonwealth Video games.
“After that, I wish to be on the Olympics, Africa Video games and World Championship; however I want a whole lot of help to realize all of those targets.
“Sadly for us right here in Nigeria, the completely blind athletes are actually going by means of a whole lot of difficulties. I wish to use this chance to beg Nigeria’s sports activities officers and federation to do extra for us.”
Sulaiman concluded with a promise that she and different visually challenged athletes would present their deepest gratitude to individuals who assist them get alongside of their efforts at changing into related to Nigeria by means of sports activities.
“We’ll absolutely recognize it if they assist us extra to ensure that us to beat our difficulties. We blind athletes are lagging behind in Nigeria.
“Our greatest areas of want are particularly relating to attending competitions exterior the nation. We additionally want the supply of higher welfare packages for us.
“If the Nigeria Para-athletics Committee can look into our challenges and assist us sort out them, we’ll actually recognize their efforts,” the amiable athlete reassured.
