Sports
Four Athletes Join Cadet Tennis Team
The Nigeria Table Tennis
Federation has named four athletes into its cadet team.
The athletes are Ibrahim Umar, Michael Obayomi, Muibat Bello and Zainab Surmer.
The NTTF’s Secretary, Chinedu Ezealah-Ogundare, told newsmen that no fewer than 16 athletes had been discovered in the ongoing Toyin Okenla-Ojeaga U-17 Table Tennis Championships.
It will be recalled that the cadet team is made up of winners from last year’s International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) sponsored ‘’Nigeria Hopes Week Intensive Training Programme for grassroots talents.
The competition, which served-off on March 24 is to be concluded on March 29 at the Molade Thomas-Okoya Hall of the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere, Lagos.
“16 players have been discovered and their accurate ages were also gotten in the process.
“They will have to fight hard to make it into the cadet team because the team is for serious minded people.’’
Ezealah-Ogundare noted that the federation had mapped out plans to run clinics to engage the athletes during their long vacation.
“The federation would cater for both their feeding and accommodation to make everything easy for them.’’
She, however, appealed to parents to support their children to enable them achieve their true potential in sports.
“Let us all join hands together to help these young ones achieve their heart’s desires.
“It is only when their hearts are at peace that they can achieve anything, nothing can be achieved when the heart is in fear,” she said.
The winners in last year’s event are Abiodun Adekunle of Angus Memorial Senior Secondary School, Igbobi, who won the boys’ trophy, while Zainab Akande of King Ado, High School, Isale Eko, won the girls’ trophy.
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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