● GMTNewsng Staff Reporter
Enugu State’s rising para-athletics sensation, Ebuka Orji, delivered a spectacular performance on Saturday, May 24, 2025, as he stormed to a silver medal finish in the fiercely contested 100 metres para-athletics race at the ongoing National Sports Festival. In a race decided by a razor-thin photo-finish, Orji was narrowly edged out by the eventual gold medallist, a decision that lit up the stadium and kept fans on the edge of their seats.
Orji’s silver adds to Enugu State’s steadily growing medal haul, taking the silver count to seven as the contingent pushes harder in the race for gold. All eyes are now on Daniel Mbamalu, whose result in the javelin event is being anxiously awaited and expected to boost the team’s overall tally.
The medal hunt continues today, Sunday, May 25, as Emmanuel Ugonna and Destiny Agbo gear up to launch their final throws in the shot put para-athletics (male and female) events. Ebuka Orji, fresh from his 100m heroics, will also return to the track to battle for glory in the 400 metres para-athletics race.
Enugu State’s camp is brimming with confidence, especially with wrestling events still on the card. The state boasts strong contenders in the sport and is optimistic of securing at least five more medals across disciplines as the Games enter a crucial phase.
However, the journey has not been without its setbacks. A controversial “raza technicality” – a rule in para-athletics where the result favors lighter weight athletes if they are not beaten by a specific margin – denied Enugu a well-deserved gold in the men’s discus event. Emmanuel Ugonna, who threw a remarkable distance, outclassed his nearest rival by 9.3 metres. But in a surprising twist, the gold was awarded to the lighter category athlete, in line with competition rules.
Para-athletics coach, Chukwuemeka Okafor, clarified that under the raza rule, an athlete in a higher weight category must outthrow a lighter opponent by at least 13 metres to claim victory – a margin Ugonna fell just short of, despite his impressive performance.
“The raza technicality became our undoing in what should have been a gold-winning performance,” lamented Coach Okafor.
Despite this hurdle, Team Enugu is determined to bounce back. The squad remains hopeful and focused, showcasing resilience and talent that signal what to expect when Enugu State takes center stage as host of next year’s edition of the National Sports Festival.
With Orji’s silver medal sprint lighting the path, the coal city athletes are fired up to finish strong – and perhaps, rewrite their golden story. GMTNewsng
