The Executive of Sierra Leone National Paralympics Committee (SLE-NPC), members of the disable community and popular comedian, Timbo aka City Parrot today welcomed para-athletes back home in a grand style, after Arnold Sheka Kamara finished second in the powerlifting competition in Birmingham, United Kingdom.
Polio Para-Powerlifter Arnold Sheka Kamara and one arm female Para-Table Tennis player Rashidatu Mabinty Sesay were among 80 Para-athletes and coaches at a Global GAPS camp in Birmingham.
Addressing the gathering at the NOC/ NPC office at 13 Walpole Street office in Freetown, the SLE-NPC’s Team Leader Unisa Deen Kargbo expressed his happiness for the performance of both para-athletes especially Arold Sheka Kamara who finished second position in the para-powerlifting.
“We at the Paralympics committee are happy because we are making history every day for this country. Arold Sheka Kamara arrived this morning from London where he competed in the para-powerlifting and secured second position. We are on the path to qualify for the Paralympics Games in Paris. He was accompanied by Coach Ibrahim Kamara,” he noted.
In his congratulatory message, Chief Executive Officer, Alexander Thullah aka African Teachers, thanked the President of the National Paralympics Committee for his relentless efforts to ensure that the athletes were able to participate in the GAPS training and competition camp, extending his gratitude to the government for their support.
“After we received invitations from the Commonwealth, we made sure that the selection was done based on competency. I want to congratulate Arold, this is from my heart and on behalf of the executive of Sierra Leone National Paralympics Committee and the entire membership, I want to thank Arold for representing us well and congratulation to you. This is a lesson for other athletes to endure that whenever you are chosen to go for such programs, you should do your best and not to go on a jolly ride,” he stressed.
“We are looking forward to being able to get qualifications for the Paralympics Games in France within a few months and when that happens, we will make sure that we go there not to participate, but to compete for medals,” he concludes.
For his path, Arold Sheka Kamara thanked the NPC’s astute leadership of the NPC for having confidence in him to represent Sierra Leone, underscoring this not the first time he has been representing the country.
“The first and second outing, I was able to secure qualification and the third time, I finished in third place. This time around, I secured second position. I very hopeful of qualifying for the Paralympics Games in Paris where I will be going to compete for medal,” he stated.
Later, one arm female Para-Table Tennis player Rashidatu Mabinty Sesay was welcomed by the President of the National Olympics Committee/ Commonwealth Games Association of Sierra Leone (NOC/CGA-SLE).