Sports
Nigerian Gymnasts ’ll Excel In Canada – Coach
National gymnastics coach, Tony Asuquo has assured that the 12 gymnasts that will represent Nigeria at the 2017 Junior Olympics in Canada will excel.
The tournament is slated to begin on April 16 and end on April 21.
Asuquo told newsmen yesterday in Abuja that the gymnasts had been training four hours daily since December.
“2017 is going to be a super one for us, I believe in possibilities and I believe we are going to come out in flying colours.
“We started training since December, intense four hours’ training and the girls are ready to go for Olympic Juniors in Cagliari, Alberto, Canada.
“The competition is slated for April 16 to April 21. But we are going to be there from April 16 to April 26.
“Spots minister Solomon Dalung has promised and has even signed and approved sponsorship for the girls to go and represent Nigeria.
“Twelve of the girls will be travelling.
“This (the competition) is a follow-up to the South Africa trip because they (the gymnasts) are moving to the next level.
“This time we are aiming high and if we are able to clinch medals at the Junior Olympics in Canada, we know that the African Games will be child’s play.’’
The coach said keeping the athletes in good form ahead of major competitions would enable them to compete favourably with athletes representing other countries.
“We are supposed to be attending competitions to test our faith, to be able to get acclimatise with the new code of points for the gymnasts to get used to the new skills of elements that they are supposed to be performing.
“But here in our country we just sit back and allow the gymnasts to go for major championships without preparations and they go there and use the same old skills or they are forced to do in three months what they have not attempted to do before.
“So at the end of the day you see them achieving nothing but another jamboree.
“That is not what I am looking at; I am looking at the future, a long time plan where we’ll have national teams one, two, and three.’’
According to him, while national team one is representing Nigeria at the All Africa Games, national team two is in the world championship, just as national team three is in Nigeria training.
“After the competition in Canada, we are going to come back home to prepare for our own in-house national in Abuja.
“In June, July we are going back for the African juniors in South Africa and that is held annually.’’
The championship will run from today to October 12 at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia. On the ground for the championship are athletes from Brazil, Peru, Egypt, Cameroon, Tunisia, Nigeria, Mauritius and Rwanda. They arrived on Sunday.
Some of the other countries were expected in the Abia State capital yesterday. Speaking on the championship, yesterday, Abia State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Nwobilor Ananaba, said the chief host, Governor Alex Otti, has mobilised facilities and the personnel to ensure a successful event.
Speaking through the Special Assistant to the Governor on Sports, Raymond Chima Ukwa, said: “We have the best mats, playing mats, especially the wheelchair playing mats, which is the first of its kind in West Africa.
“If you go around, you’ll see the hall and the preparation that has been made to ensure that people have an equitable world-class playing field.” Thrilled by Governor Otti’s support for the competition, Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN) President, Francis Orbih, said that, besides making all the necessary arrangements that will ensure a successful hosting of the events, “we will have a Para-Badminton workshop for coaches and players.
“Nigeria is doing well, Abia is doing well, and we want to do better to improve on where we are, which is why all these have been put together by Governor Otti.”
Nigeria’s Flying Eagles began their campaign at the 24th FIFA U20 World Cup with a narrow 1–0 loss to Norway on Monday, despite creating several opportunities to level the game.
Norway took the lead in the 9th minute after being awarded a controversial penalty. The Flying Eagles pressed for an equaliser but were denied two penalty claims in the second half.
Kparobo Arierhi came close in the 47th minute when his shot drifted wide with the goalkeeper beaten, while Tahir Maigana struck the upright in the 63rd minute.
Nasiru Salihu’s rising effort in the 71st minute also went narrowly over the bar, drawing gasps from the crowd.
Seven minutes from time, Maigana again tested Norway with a long-range strike that went just wide as Nigeria continued to pile on the pressure.
Despite their dominance, the Flying Eagles could not find the breakthrough and now turn their attention to Thursday’s clash against Saudi Arabia in their second group match.
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