Sports
Taekwondo Association Plans Talent Hunt
The FCT Taekwondo Association is set to revive the declining fortunes of the sport through a talent hunt programme.
It wants to achieve this by organising taekwondo championships, said Mr Benjamin Eneh, the Chairman of the association.
The second FCT kiddies Taekwondo Championship organised by the FCT Taekwondo Black Belt College which took place in Abuja recently, was part of the moves being made by the body to actualise its objective.
Eneh, who made this known to the press on Saturday in Abuja, said that the championship was purely a grassroots initiative to discover budding talents.
“We brought these kids together because our aim is to improve the profile of the sport from the grassroots.
“We want to groom these children right from the scratch, so that in a few years from now we will be churning out potential champions in taekwondo,’’ he said.
Eneh added that apart from physical development of the body, “taekwondo is also capable of aiding the concentration level of kids in their academic work in school.
“It’s a sport that could bring children in harmony with their minds and their body by way of training them to learn how to concentrate.
“And even in their academics, most of them who have not been doing well, stand the chance of improving on their school work by joining the taekwondo club.’’
He said that the key elements of taekwondo were modesty, humility, self-control and perseverance-virtues that he said could build a man into a noble character.
Meanwhile, the Head of Technical FCT Sports Department, Mr Tony Anafulu, said that the purpose of the championship was to discover the best among the children and build them up for the professional phase.
He added that a professional training would be organised for the outstanding talents that were discovered from the programme, to further enhance their capability.
Thirteen schools, including some residents’ association taekwondo clubs in the FCT, featured in the programme.
All registered kids are to be given certificates and medals in the different categories of the discipline.
The Bayelsa State government, yesterday, announced that the marathon will be held on Saturday, April 4, 2026.
The inaugural race is owned by the Bayelsa State Government and will be organised by Nilayo Sports Management Limited, a sports management company.
Under the theme “The Reveal,” the race represents a bold unveiling of Bayelsa’s immense human and cultural potential to the international community, inviting the world to witness the resilience, grit, and talent rooted in the heart of the Niger Delta.
According to the organisers, the race will be flagged off at 9:30 a.m., at the Opolo Roundabout, guiding participants through a carefully designed 10-kilometre route that highlights the scenic beauty and vibrant atmosphere of Yenagoa.
The course will culminate at Peace Park Square, where athletes will cross the finish line into a grand celebration of endurance, unity, and community spirit.
To elevate the experience for runners and spectators alike, the finish venue will host a high-energy post-race concert featuring performances from top A-list artistes, blending sport and entertainment in a festival-style atmosphere.
The organisers directed all registered participants to collect their race bibs and kits at the designated Peace Park Square between March 30 and April 3, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily.
The race, according to them, is currently on track for World Athletics accreditation, underscoring the commitment of both the Bayelsa State Government and Nilayo Sports Management Limited to delivering an event that meets the highest global standards.
The Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Bukola Olopade, on Friday continued the Commission’s nationwide appreciation tour with a visit to Abeokuta, where outstanding junior athlete, Majekodunmi Afusat Bisola, was presented with a cheque of N3 million.
The presentation forms part of the NSC’s initiative to recognise and reward exceptional junior athletes who distinguished themselves in 2025 and contributed significantly to Nigeria’s medal haul.
Majekodunmi delivered an impressive run of performances on the track. At the last edition of the National Sports Festival, she stormed to gold in the 400m and the 4x400m relay. She replicated the double triumph at the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) Junior Championship, in Abeokuta, before emerging as one of the standout stars at the African Youth Games in Luanda, Angola.
Speaking during the presentation, Olopade explained that the Commission deemed it necessary to extend financial appreciation to grassroots athletes after elite performers had earlier received grants running into thousands of dollars.
“A few weeks ago, after paying grants to our elite athletes, we agreed tthere was a need to also appreciate these young, budding talents who made Nigeria proud last year,” he said.
He disclosed that of the 376 medals recorded by Nigerian athletes in 2025, more than 200 were won by grassroots talents, underscoring the importance of sustained investment in youth development.
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