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Benue State Emerges Champion Of 2021 Zonal Para-Athletics tourney in Abuja

Published

4 years ago

October 25, 2021

…Coaches players urges Governor to encourage disable sports

Joel Ajayi

Benue State over the weekend emerged the overall winner of the 2021 edition of zonal FCT Para-Athletics association competition held inside the training pitch of MKO Abiola National stadium in Abuja with total number of 25 medals.

Team Benue emerged as the champions of the competition para-athletics yearly event with 9 gold, 13 silver, and 3 bronze, Nasarawa came second with 9 Gold, 8 Silver and 3 Bronze while Plateau came third with 9 Gold, 4 Silver and 4 Bronze.

Host state FCT finished 4^thwith 9 gold, 2 silver, and 6 bronze as Niger state won just two gold emerged then 5^th position of the annual event for people living with disability in the north central Zone.

Speaking during the event FCT Para-Athletic coach Innocent Nwabunwanne said the aim of the competition is to encourage all athletes with disability in the zone.

He expressed that there is ability in disability.

He called on all the state governors especially the north central zone to encourage the people living with disability with more disabled sport competition that would go a long way in helping them to be useful to themselves and society at large.

“My message is that nobody known tomorrow, these people you have seen on the street are not maker of their condition, some were born like that, while some caused by accident and it can happen to anyone, I was not born disable it was polio and that time there was nothing like vaccination. So, anyone can become disable person.”

One of the partially blind athletes Maida Shammah who emerged winner of 200 meters, and 100 meters during the one-day event said his desire is to represent Nigeria at any international level.

“My message is for government to make more sports competition available for disable to encourage disable because when they disable, and you leave them on the street they will just be nuisance and menace to the society.”

At the end of event cash reward, medals were given to all the athletes that distinguished themselves during the event.

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NSF: Oparaoji, Ekpeyong, Quadri Gear Up for Tough Quarterfinal Clashes in Abeokuta

Published

2 weeks ago

May 23, 2025

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The tennis courts at the ongoing National Sports Festival in Abeokuta are buzzing with intensity as the competition hits the quarterfinal stage in both the men’s and women’s singles events, following a gripping round of 16.

Men’s Singles Quarterfinals:

Abubakar Yusuf of FCT will square off against Rivers State’s Abua Canice. Yusuf booked his spot with a 4-0, 4-2 win over Ehigiamusoe Endurance of Edo, while Canice cruised past Azi David 4-1, 4-0.

Bayelsa’s Uche Oparaoji faces Adeleye Daniel of Ekiti in a clash of skill and strategy. Oparaoji outclassed Urenyang Nuhu of Taraba 4-1, 4-2, just as Adeleye powered past Kaduna’s Ibrahim Sulaiman with the same scoreline.

In one of the most anticipated ties, Danjuma Lucky (FCT) will lock horns with Bayelsa’s top seed David Ekpeyong. Danjuma came through a thrilling contest against Ekiti’s Abamu Matthew, rallying to win 1-4, 4-2, 10-5, while Ekpeyong dominated Taraba’s Rubi Toba 4-0, 4-2.

Home favourite Christopher Bulus of Ogun will battle Edo’s Michael Chima for a semifinal ticket. Bulus swept past Rivers’ Timibra Godsgift 4-1, 4-0, while Chima triumphed over Delta’s Iloputa Ikechukwu in a straight-set win.

Women’s Singles Quarterfinals:

Delta’s Barakat Quadri, fresh off a 4-1, 4-0 win over Rebecca Ekpeyong of Bayelsa, will face rising star Emmanuel Bright of the IJA (Invited Junior Athletes), who overcame Rivers’ Maxwell Timipre 4-2, 5-3.

Edo’s Omotayo Blessing will battle Akwa Ibom’s Udoffa Mary in what promises to be a fiery encounter. Omotayo brushed aside Ekiti’s Adeusi Jesutoyosi 4-0, 4-1, while Udoffa outplayed Moses Favour of Kaduna 5-3, 4-0.

Elsewhere, Ogunjobi Success of Ekiti will test her mettle against Aina Goodnews of IJA, and Akwa Ibom’s Etoro Bassey faces Ogun’s Yakubu Ohunene in a South-South vs South-West showdown.

With the quarterfinals locked in, tennis fans are in for a thrilling ride as the battle for medals intensifies under the Abeokuta sun.

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