Sports

Binga Expresses Desire to See Nigerian Taekwondo Athletes Win Medals at Major International Events

Published

1 month ago

October 23, 2025

By Joel Ajayi

Presidential aspirant for the Nigeria Taekwondo Federation (NTF), Margaret Elizabeth Binga, has reiterated her determination to restore Nigeria’s glory in taekwondo and ensure the nation’s athletes win medals at major international championships, including the Olympics.

Binga made this known on Thursday while appearing before the Electoral Committee of the National Sports Commission (NSC) to present her manifesto ahead of the forthcoming federation elections.

A seasoned athlete, administrator, and international referee, Binga described taekwondo as an inseparable part of her life and identity.

“Taekwondo is me. Whatever I am today is because of this sport. I know the pain, and I know the game,” she said. “As someone who has been an athlete, an administrator, and a referee, I have a stake in this sport. When I see things not going as they should, it pushes me to return and complete the work I started.”

Expressing concern over Nigeria’s decline in global taekwondo, Binga lamented the country’s absence from medal podiums in recent years, especially when compared to other African nations that once looked up to Nigeria for guidance and training.

“It hurts me when I see countries like Egypt—who used to come here to train and even spar with our athletes—now winning gold and silver medals at major championships, while we struggle to win even one medal at the Olympics,” she said.

Outlining her plans, Binga stressed the need for increased participation in international ranking tournaments to help Nigerian athletes earn valuable Olympic qualification points and improve the country’s global ranking.

“We must send our athletes to ranking tournaments so they can accumulate Olympic points. Even if we don’t qualify directly, better rankings will give us stronger placements and opportunities in future events,” she explained.

On her leadership style, Binga described herself as a fighter who is driven by faith, resilience, and a passion for progress.

“When it comes to trust, I trust only in God. I’m a fighter—no retreat, no surrender. I’ll keep pushing until we get it right. My record should speak for me. I may not be perfect, but I believe in consistent growth and improvement,” she affirmed.

Binga’s unwavering passion and well-defined vision underscore her commitment to reposition Nigerian taekwondo, inspire a new generation of athletes, and restore the nation’s pride on the global stage.

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Sports

Tangerine APT Pension Crowned New Kings of PFA Games 2025

Published

10 hours ago

November 30, 2025

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi
Joel Ajayi Tangerine APT Pension stormed the 2025 Pension Fund Administrators Games and snatched the crown with a commanding 66 points—ending FCMB’s reign and announcing themselves as the new champions of corporate sporting excellence.

From the first whistle to the final scoreboard, Tangerine APT played like an organisation possessed. They dominated volleyball and snooker, showcased brilliant tactical depth to finish second in chess behind Norrenberger, secured second place in team bonding behind Premium Pension, and held their own across the board—fourth in football, sixth in table tennis, fifth in scrabble, and eighth in e-sports, press conference, discipline and grooming. Every point mattered, and Tangerine APT grabbed them with fire.

Defending champions FCMB, despite flashes of brilliance, simply could not summon last year’s magic.

They finished second overall with 63 points—just three points behind the new champions. FCMB were first in scrabble, second in football, third in table tennis and e-sports, fourth in snooker and team bonding, and fifth in volleyball, chess, and press conference/discipline/grooming. A brave defence, but not enough to stop the Tangerine wave.

Rounding off the podium is NPF Pension, finishing third with 57 points after a spirited campaign. They claimed gold in football, second in table tennis and e-sports, third in volleyball, fourth in scrabble, sixth in press conference/discipline/fanfare/most coordinated, seventh in chess, and eighth in snooker and team bonding.

The rest of the table saw fierce competition:4th – Norrenberger Pension: 52 points, 5th – Premium Pension: 47 points, 6th – NNPC Pension: 45 points, 7th – Access Arm: 41 points
In Others position 8th – Trustfund Pension: 29 points 9th – PENCOM: 28 points and 10th – NUPEMCO: 25 points.

With the dust settled and the cheers still echoing, one truth stands tall:Tangerine APT Pension has ushered in a new era—bold, dominant, and unforgettable.

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