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.