Oseyemi Jayeoba, Ondo State’s Para-Swimming Coach, has advised parents not to prevent their children born or living with physical challenges from the opportunities of utilizing their abilities.

Jayeoba gave the advice after her athlete, Sarah Orianu, successfully defended the gold medal she won at the Edo 2020 edition of the National Sports Festival (NSF) on Thursday in Asaba.

Orianu won the 2022 NSF gold medal in the 50 meters freestyle event of the para-swimming competition.

The coach said while she was glad to have achieved the feat with her athlete, she wanted other parents to look the way of sports for their children born with disabilities.

“Parents should allow their physically-challenged children to take advantage of the government’s decision to return special sports to the national sports festival.

“Orianu won the gold medal in 50m freestyle at Edo 2020 and she still defended it here, I’m proud of her, it shows that there is ability in disability.

“We should stop hiding physically-challenged children, and let them participate in sports, they have their strengths and talents,” she said.

Also speaking, an elated Orianu told the media that she was grateful to God for achieving the feat, adding that her target now was to become an international para-swimming champion.

“Swimming is my natural hobby. I love swimming and naturally, we are swimmers in our family,” she said.

Meanwhile, Damilola Oyedepo is making the best of her debut appearance in badminton for Ondo state.

She defeated Nigeria’s number five player, Aminat Ilori of Ogun, to qualify for the quarter-finals in the female category.

In tennis, the duo of Blessing Omotayo and Olamide Esther also won the bronze medal in women’s doubles.

Omotayo went on to add Ondo state’s haul of medals and one bronze medal in the women’s tennis singles.

Ondo State has garnered six gold, 15 silver, and 23 bronze medals for a total of 44 medals at the competition as of Thursday.