Sports
Gold Medalists Seek Sponsorship
The Lagos State Table Tennis gold medalists at the 18th National Sports Festival last Friday solicited for sponsors ahead of the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
The medalists told Tidesports that they were ready to haul gold medals in reciprocation of the sponsorship.
They pledged to be dedication to the games and urged corporate firms for sponsorship to enable them to attend international competitions that would improve their experience.
The 18th National Sports Festival, tagged “Eko 2012”, held in Lagos from November 27 to December 9.
Tidesport reports that Adeyinka Ahmed won gold in the men’s singles while Omotola Olajide and Ganiu Ashimiu won gold and bronze respectively.
Ahmed said that attending both national and international championships was crucial to the development and preparation of an athlete for major competitions.
He said such competitions enabled athletes to meet people who were better than them, thereby perfecting their playing skills.
“Sometimes the weakness of an expert may lie in something simple. It could be in not knowing how to use the back hand to receive or how to receive loops.
“These competitions serve as a sparring ground to size our opponents up before the major competitions such as the Olympics and world championships.”
He said that he had begun training since January soon after the festival ended, to improve himself even without sponsors.
“I train at the Knock- up Hall of the National Stadium for eight hours, six times a week where I engage in rigorous skill sharpening and endurance exercises.
“There is no way that I would not bring home a gold medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games.”
Omotayo Olajide, one of the duo medalists of the men’s doubles, also said it was crucial to play with athletes from other countries, to adapt to their style of play.
Olajide noted that it would expose them to the kind of people to meet at major competitions, thereby developing some tactics against them.
He also said that lack of funds hindered the players from participating at various international competitions which would build their experience for the games.
“For instance, we were not able to partake at the ITTF World Tour Austrian Open in Wels which held from January 23 to January 27 and the just concluded ITTF World Tour Kuwait Open which ended on February 18.
“However, the upcoming ITTF LIEBHER World Table Tennis Championships slated for Paris is scheduled for May 13 to May 20.
“If we could get sponsorship to attend these competitions, it would serve as preparatory ground to excel at the Common Wealth Games,” he said.
Olajide expressed optimism of winning gold at the Commonwealth Games, if the players could get sponsors.
Tidesport reports that the event is scheduled for Glasgow, Scotland, from July 23 to August 3.
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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