Sports
Quadre Claims ITF Junior Title
Nigeria’s Oyinlomo Quadre won all her matches at the International Tennis Federation (ITF) Junior Grade Three tournament in Pretoria, South Africa to emerge champion.
The flawless champion was at her best as tenacity coupled with her humility paid off as she claimed her fist title outside West Africa.
The highpoint for the 16-year-old sensation was the way she approached most of the matches in the singles.
In the final, she proved her rating as the number two seed when she humbled France’s Nahia Berecoechea 6-2, 6-3 to emerge as only players not drop a set.
But she was not lucky in the doubles as her partnership with Morocco’s Salma Loudili failed to produce a victory against Morocco’s Sara Akid and Yasmine Kabbaj.
Having lost the first set in a closed encounter at 6-7, Quadre and her partner restored parity by winning the second set 6-1. But they were unlucky in the final set as their unforced errors became their undoing and they lost 12-10.
Already before her departure in 2019 to the ITF High Performance Centre in Morocco, Quadre had established herself as the best female player in Nigeria winning most of the tournaments while she also made it to the quarterfinal stage of the Lagos Tennis Open in 2019.
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.