Sports
Athletics future is bright in Nigeria – AFN Vice President Aku Aghazu
….Thumbs the NSC for its collaborative support_
Joel Ajayi
2nd Vice President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, AFN, Aku Aghazu, has commended Nigeria track and field athletes for their performance at the 6th Islamic Solidarity Games in Riyadh.
Nigeria has won a total of 7 medals in Track and field including an impressive Gold medal in a fiercely contested Women’s 4x100m, 3 silver and 3 bronze medals.
The AFN VP said the future of athletics is getting brighter in Nigeria with the quality of exciting home grown talents that are coming up and their performance in Riyadh is a further testament.
“I am so proud of our athletes here in Riyadh and what I find particularly pleasing is the fact that the bulk of these athletes are our youth athletes not the most experienced ones”.
“The bravery with which they stepped up to the start line and attacked each event is amazing. I was blown away by the showing of the quartet of the 4x100m girls. Patience Okon George, who some might consider a veteran, also represented Nigeria well, with her come from behind Silver medal in the 400m”.
“Our 4x100m men also held their own with great zeal and patriotism, in a tightly contested field, to snatch the Bronze medal”.
She maintained that the revamped AFN under the leadership of President Tonobok Okowa, with colloborative effort from the NSC, has already started rolling out some strategic plans to improve the country’s athletics fortunes and the results in Riyadh are a reflection of that. She assured that there is more to come and the coaches are not going to be left behind.
“I must commend the innovative ideas of the NSC chaired by Mallam Shehu Dikko and the Director General, Hon Bukola Olopade, that is bringing about the sweeping changes and success we’re witnessing in sports today.”
“For example, quite a number of the athletes winning medals in Riyadh were discovered from the Invited Junior Athletes (IJA) initiative, introduced by the NSC at the recently concluded National Sports Festival.”
“Our next big focus is the Commonwealth Games and judging from the outstanding showing so far here in Riyadh, I believe that our Athletes will amaze the nation positively in Glasgow”, she emphasized.
Sports
Team Nigeria Records Best-Ever Performance at Islamic Solidarity Games in Riyadh
…Finishes 8th on overall standings, secures Africa’s second best placement
Joel Ajayi
Nigeria finished eighth on the medals table with a total of 30 medals, marking its best-ever performance at the Islamic Solidarity Games, while Turkey emerged at the top of the standings.
This year has been a remarkable success for the National Sports Commission, which has supported more than 40 sports federations in attending international competitions, many of whom have delivered outstanding performances and secured medals – the count includes taekwondo, swimming, cricket, para-powerlifting, para-badminton, among others.
Nigeria’s haul, comprised 11 gold, 12 silver, and 7 bronze, a result that reinforces the National Sports Commission’s (NSC) strategic direction of sending only athletes with strong podium prospects to major international events.
Competing in seven sports, Taekwondo, Boxing, Athletics, Wrestling, Weightlifting, Para-Powerlifting, and Para-Athletics, the team delivered an unprecedented outcome, winning medals in every sports they competed in .
Weightlifting led Nigeria’s medal haul with 6 gold, 4 silver, and 3 bronze, followed by Athletics, which secured 2 gold, 4 silver, and 3 bronze. Wrestling added 2 gold and 2 silver, Para-Powerlifting contributed 1 gold, while Boxing and Para-Athletics each earned 1 silver. Taekwondo completed the tally with 1 bronze medal.
Director General of the National Sports Commission, Hon. Bukola Olopade, praised the team’s exceptional outing, stating:
“It is not a coincidence that Nigeria won medals in every sport we participated in at the 6th Islamic Solidarity Games. This achievement reflects the new direction we have taken in sports development. After meeting with our team at the Commission and the Elite and Podium Board led by Yusuf Ali, we made a deliberate decision to bring only podium prospects to Riyadh and today, that decision has paid off.”
He added that the performance in Riyadh sets the standard for future international engagements:
“From Boxing to Taekwondo, Weightlifting, Wrestling, Track and Field and Powerlifting, Nigeria secured medals in every sport we entered. This is the new benchmark at the National Sports Commission, guiding our preparations for upcoming competitions, including the Commonwealth Games and ultimately, the Olympics.”
Officials stated that Team Nigeria’s record-breaking finish in Riyadh marks a defining moment in the country’s sporting evolution and strengthens its position as a rising force in global multi-sport competitions.
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