Sports
Ladipo Armwrestling Championships To Hold In Lagos, March 26
The Nigeria
Armwrestling Federation (NAWF) yesterday said that plans had been concluded to host the maiden Rafiu Ladipo Armwrestling Championship.
NAWF President Olatunji Jackson told the newsmen in Lagos that the Championship were slated to hold at the National Stadium in Lagos on March 26.
Jackson said that 16 weight categories would be competed for at the one-day championship.
“We have what it takes to engage 200 participants at the competition; the manpower and kits are available for these numbers,’’ he said.
Jackson said that the championships would be used as a selection process for armwrestlers to represent the country at the forthcoming African Armwrestling Championships holding in Cairo, Egypt, from April 26 to April 29.
“We are also using the championships to strengthen the national team as well as select representatives to the forthcoming tournament in Egypt,’’ he said.
He said that the federation intended to engage its armwrestlers in all the competitions in the calendar for the year.
“This is one of the programmes we have for 2016. We have nine competitions that we will love our armwrestlers to participate in.
“These tournaments comprise national and international competitions.
“We have the Dr Rafiu Ladipo National Armwrestling Championships, Lagos Open World Armwrestling Championships, African Armwrestling Championships in Egypt.
“We also have Amsterdam Festival Armwrestling, World Eliminating Armwrestling Championships, Gulley Armwrestling, U.S., 36th World Armwrestling Championships in Hungary and the Owerri Community Open Championships.
“We are making extra-efforts to surpass all the programmes we had in 2015,’’Jackson said.
He said that because the federation was new, the board members were saddled with the responsibility of making the sport popular.
“It is a new sport in the country which is barely over a year. It has yet to gain a wide acceptance.
“Many persons have yet to know about the sport. Almost every day I have to display to people how the sport is practiced,” he said.
Jackson, however, appealed to well-meaning Nigerians to partner the armwrestling federation to put it in spotlight.
“Our plan is to make armwrestling a medal winning sport for Nigeria. We want our armwrestlers to be world beaters,” he said.
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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