Sports
Bayelsa State Taekwondo Wins Overall Best Team National President Cup Open Championship
The 2023 National President Cup Open Championship organized by the Nigeria Taekwondo Federation came to conclusion on Sunday night as Bayelsa State Taekwondo team emerges as the Overall Best Team after claiming top position with 2 Gold, 3 Silver and 4 Bronze on the medal table.
The keenly contested 3 days competition which had athletes competing in Kyroigi, Poomsae and Para, saw team Bayelsa, Team Edo and Team Oyo State Taekwondo finishing in the top 3 position.
Speaking after lifting the trophy presented to the Bayelsa State Taekwondo team, Head Coach of the team Coach Judith D. Willaims described the success as a plus for her carrier.
“Word can`t express how I feel but I must first thank God for the success we recorded here even as much that this is my first outing as the head coach of team Bayelsa state Taekwondo team, looking back to were we are coming from due to the fact that we have lost hope of coming to participate at this National President Cup Open Championship but I must specially thank our director of sports in our state for the supports given to us and to also the working and committed president of the Nigeria Taekwondo Federation for creating this kind of championship for athletes to show their skill”.
Coach Judith Williams then gave a pass mark on the organization to the Nigeria Taekwondo Federation toward the organization of National President Cup Open Championship.
“I want to sincerely commend the federation for the good work put in place for this championship, for me to rate the tournament, I will give them an A using the academic team because there were no issues recorded between the coaches and the referees even among the athletes. This championship is a success”.
Chidinma Favour from Team Edo State won the overall best female player while Feysal Hamidou from Niger Republic won the Overall Best player for the National President Cup Open Championship.
Sports
SWAN President Calls for Gender-Fair Reporting in Sports Journalism
By Joel Ajayi
The President of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Isaiah Kemje Benjamin, has urged sports journalists to eliminate gender stereotypes and bias in their reports to promote fairness, inclusion and greater visibility for women in sports.
Benjamin made the call on Monday in Abuja while delivering a presentation titled “Gender-Sensitive Journalism: Removing Gender Stereotypes and Bias in Sports Reporting” at the Annual Women in Sports Leadership Training/Seminar for Journalists, organised by the Women Commission of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC).
He said sports journalists play a critical role in shaping public opinion, influencing athletes’ visibility and determining which achievements receive recognition, sponsorship and investment.
According to him, the way the media reports women in sports can either reinforce existing barriers or help dismantle them.
Benjamin explained that gender-sensitive journalism requires fairness, accuracy, equality and inclusion, stressing that it does not mean giving female athletes favourable coverage or shielding them from legitimate criticism.
He identified common forms of bias in sports reporting, including giving men’s competitions greater prominence, focusing on female athletes’ appearance rather than performance, defining women by their marital or family status, and questioning their competence in leadership positions.
The SWAN president urged journalists to adopt respectful language, apply consistent professional standards and extend coverage beyond national teams to domestic leagues, grassroots competitions, female coaches, referees and sports administrators.
Using Nigeria’s sporting landscape as an example, he said the achievements of the Super Falcons deserved sustained analysis beyond match results, including discussions on investment, player development, professional leagues and grassroots structures.
He also noted that digital platforms offered opportunities to expand coverage of women’s sports but warned journalists against sensationalism, online harassment and sexist commentary.
Benjamin proposed seven measures, including gender-sensitive editorial guidelines, regular coverage audits, diversified sources, professional development, stronger grassroots reporting and measurable progress.
He called on SWAN to collaborate with the NOC, sports federations, leagues and clubs to improve access to information and strengthen women’s visibility in sports.
He urged journalists to ensure that athletes are judged by their performances and achievements rather than gender stereotypes.
“Gender-sensitive journalism must be fair, not favourable,” he said, emphasising that responsibility for change rests with reporters, editors, broadcasters, photographers and digital publishers.
-
Featured7 years agoLampard Names New Chelsea Manager
-
Featured7 years agoFG To Extends Lockdown In FCT, Lagos Ogun states For 7days
-
Featured7 years agoChildren Custody: Court Adjourns Mike Ezuruonye, Wife’s Case To April 7
-
Featured7 years agoNYSC Dismisses Report Of DG’s Plan To Islamize Benue Orientation Camp
-
Featured5 years agoTransfer Saga: How Mikel Obi Refused to compensate me After I Linked Him Worth $4m Deal In Kuwait SC – Okafor
-
Featured7 years ago
Board urges FG to establish one-stop rehabilitation centres in 6 geopolitical zones
-
Sports4 years ago
TINUBU LAMBAST DELE MOMODU
-
News2 years agoZulu to Super Eagles B team, President Tinubu is happy with you
