Sports

Aruna, Ejike To Captain Team Nigeria In Japan

Published

4 years ago

July 2, 2021

Table tennis sensation Aruna Quadri will lead Team Nigeria to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Japan, while Lucy Ejike will lead the Paralympics Team.

According to the Director FEAD Dr. Simeon Ebhojiaye, the African Number one who became the first African to reach the quarterfinal round of the table tennis event at the Rio 2016 Olympics in Brazil was selected to lead the athletes during the National Sports Federations meeting held in Abuja.

The 2014 World Table Tennis Player of the Year who is making his third Olympics appearance will be assisted by the captain of the women basketball team Adaora Elonu.

Commonwealth wrestling medallist Odunayo Adekuoroye will be the flag bearer during the opening ceremony, while African record holder in the long jump Ese Brume will bear the flag during the closing ceremony.

Lucy Ejike who will be competing in the Para powerlifting will Captain Team Nigeria to the Paralympics Games.

Meanwhile, the first batch of Team Nigeria contingent is expected to depart the country to Japan on Tuesday, July 6 while the second batch departs July 13, 2021.

For the Paralympic Games, Team Nigeria will depart on August 8, for a 14-day Pre-Games Training Camp (PGTC) in Kisarazu.

Team Nigeria will compete in nine Sports at the Olympics and four Sports in the Paralympics. Weightlifting has been excluded following the failure of its athletes to meet the standard.3-2

Share on Facebook

Sports

NSC Hails Nigerian Badminton Team as Eniola Bolaji Strikes Gold, Men’s Doubles Team Secures Bronze in Spanish International Tourney

Published

35 mins ago

March 17, 2025

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The National Sports Commission (NSC) has applauded the Nigerian contingent at the 2025 Spanish Parabadminton International, after another impressive outing that saw the team secure a gold and a bronze medal in Toledo, Spain, on Sunday.

Paralympic medallist Eniola Bolaji continued her dominance, winning her second gold medal in two weeks with a commanding 2-0 (21-7, 21-10) victory over Turkey’s Halime Yildiz in the women’s SL3 final. Bolaji had won gold a week earlier at the Spanish International in Victoria, Spain.

In the men’s SL4 doubles event, Nnana Jeremiah and Eze Chukwuebuka delivered a strong performance, battling their way to a well-deserved bronze medal.

NSC Chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko, commended the athletes for making Nigeria proud and praised the Badminton Federation of Nigeria, led by Francis Orbih, for ensuring the team’s optimal performance on the international stage.

“These athletes have once again showcased the resilience and talent that define Nigerian sports. Their success is a lucid indication of their hard work and the strategic leadership we demand from the Badminton Federation and other sports federations. We are proud of them and remain committed to supporting their journey to greater heights,” Dikko said.

Director General of the NSC, Hon. Bukola Olopade, emphasized that the achievements align with President Bola Tinubu’s vision of strengthening grassroots sports while ensuring Nigeria competes favorably on the global stage.

“As part of our mandate under President Tinubu’s administration, we are committed to developing talent from the grassroots and supporting our elite athletes to bring home international laurels. The NSC will continue to back the strategic vision of sports federations as we work towards building a strong and sustainable sports ecosystem,” Olopade stated.

Since the National Sports Commission leadership took office, Nigerian contingents have continued to impress internationally including international successes in cricket and basketball recorded thus far. The NSC leadership stated that no stone will be left unturned until Nigerian sports reaches its full potentials.

Share on Facebook