Sports
Ajunwa Harps On Youth Programmes
A gold medallist in the
Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games, Chioma Ajunwa, has called for early discovery of talents through youth programmes at the grassroots, to ensure sustenance.
Ajunwa told newsmen in Lagos that it was necessary to start early because athletes who thrived for long in any sport began at a young age.
She advised state coaches to encourage young athletes in the primary and secondary schools by drawing up developmental programmes to discover raw talents at the grassroots.
Ajunwa said such steps would help to identify athletes that would take to careers in athletics, given the right training.
The long jump medallist expressed dissatisfaction with the non-involvement of women in sports and attributed the development to social misconception, as well as societal and religious issues, adding that; “the sport is a profession.”
“There should be good sensitisation and orientation to develop and encourage our female athletes; besides taekwondo has rules which do not segregate,” she said.
Ajunwa advised school authorities to ensure that sports were part of their annual inter-house competitions, saying that it could be an avenue for talent discovery.
Leeds yesterday beat Birmingham in a penalty shootout to squeeze into the FA Cup fifth round for the third time in four years.
Goalkeeper Lucas Perri denied Tommy Doyle before Patrick Roberts, who scored a stunning equaliser in the 89th minute, blazed over.
Up stepped Sean Longstaff to score Leeds’ fourth spot-kick from four and send Daniel Farke’s side into the last 16.
Defeat was tough on Chris Davies’ Birmingham side, who pushed their Premier League opponents all the way before falling to only their third home defeat of the season.
The hosts, whose fans applauded owner Tom Wagner as the American continues his recovery from a stroke, deserve huge credit for their display.
And with their cup dream over for another year the ambitious Blues, who are two points off the Championship play-offs, will turn their attention to ending their 15-year exile from the top flight.
In one of the games of the week, Ajegunle United SC edged Best of Best International FA 2–1, courtesy of Ajibola Malik’s 12th-minute strike and James Solomon’s decisive penalty in the 40th minute. Lukman Jaiyeola had earlier equalised from the spot for Best of Best in the 23rd minute. Solomon’s match-winning effort earned him the Man of the Match award.
Pure Talents FA produced one of the standout performances of the week, thumping Sharp Talent FA 4–1. Igbowu Adeleke stole the show with a brilliant hat-trick, scoring in the 26th, 36th, and 40+1 minutes, while Isah Ibrahim added another.
Suliamon Ibrahim had briefly given Sharp Talent the lead in the 4th minute, but Adeleke’s heroics sealed the win and the Man of the Match accolade.
Divinely Blessed FA cruised to a 3–0 victory over Coal City FA, with Mahmud Musa netting twice in quick succession (30th and 34th minutes) and Amadu Daniel adding another in the 32nd minute. Daniel’s commanding display earned him the Man of the Match award.
Young 11 FA and Moree Wins FA battled to a goalless draw, with Akachukwu Uzoma of Young 11 FA recognised as Man of the Match for his solid performance among others.
Paris 2024 Paralympic bronze medallist Eniola Bolaji has claimed a silver medal at the 2026 Para-Badminton World Championship in Bahrain following the conclusion of the women’s SL3 final on Saturday,.
Bolaji put up a spirited performance in the final but fell to Japan’s Shino Kawai, settling for second place in what marks her first-ever World Championship podium finish.
Despite the final result, Bolaji’s run in Bahrain was nothing short of outstanding. The reigning African champion powered into the final with a dominant semi-final victory over China’s Gaoying Yuan, winning 21-12, 21-16 at the New Capital Indoor Hall.
Throughout the tournament, the Nigerian star showcased remarkable consistency and class, recording impressive straight-set victories over Australia’s Caitlin Dransfield, Brazil’s Adriane Ávila, France’s Milena Surreau, and Turkey’s world number five Halime Yildiz.
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