Sports
Sports, Universal Drug For All Sicknesses -ITF DG
Director General, Industrial Training Fund (ITF), Mr Joseph Ari, has described sports as “a universal drug for all sicknesses that must be taken by all”.
Ari made the assertion at the weekend in Jos, at the 5th inter-house athletics competition of the ITF Staff School.
“Sports unite all people. It excites everyone. It attracts everyone and brings sworn enemies together. Engaging in sports prevents a lot of ailments,” Ari said in a speech at the end of the competition.
The ITF boss, who was represented by Mrs. Augustina Igbeyi, ITF’s Director in charge of Business Training Development, said that sporting activities keep people fit and aid the quest for a healthy living.
He said that ITF was committed to promoting sports development and commended the principal and staff of the school for organising the competition.
Ari commended the students for exhibiting a spirit of love and togetherness throughout the exercise, and promised to execute projects that would create a conducive environment for sports activities and academics.
Earlier in her remarks, the Principal of the school, Mrs. Ekong Ndidi-Amaka, had said that the annual competition was aimed at fostering a better relationship among the students.
She urged the ITF management to upgrade the football field and provide badminton, tennis and handball courts.
“We also need additional spike shoes, stop watches and whistles,” she added.
The Plateau Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Mr Victor Lapang, in his remarks, said that cricket would soon be introduced to schools in the state to develop the game.
Tidesports source gathered that six Houses participated in the track and field events that included 100, 200 and 400 metres races, as well as javelin, long and high jump, among others.
Green House emerged the overall winner and took home a cash prize of N60,000, while Red and Blue houses emerged Second and third respectively.
Speaking to NAN, the Games Captain of the school, John Adebayo, urged the management of ITF to repair the volley ball court to encourage students interested in that game.
He commended the organisers of the event, saying that the 2018 exercise was far better than previous ones.
Sports
How Day Six Lifted Rivers At NYG
Team Rivers added six more medals to their total haul on Day 7 of the National Youth Games in Asaba, Delta State. The medals include two gold and four bronze.
In 4×400 metres male, the quartet of Michael Aniche, Benjamin Progress (both 13), Willngton Majesty and Daniel Caleb (both 14) returned a time 3 mins, 26 secs to pick the gold medal.
In 4×400 metres girls, four 14-year-olds Osinachi Miracle Sunny, Queen Nwika, Esther Barasin and Valerie Amapakagbo, came third behind Delta and Anambra to get bronze.
Still in the relays, this time in the 4×100 metres for boys, 14-year-old Itoemugh Kingsley teamed up with Daniel Caleb, Michael Aniche and Gauis Expensive for yet another bronze medal performance.
Gaius Expensive, a 14-year-old SS3 student of Community Secondary School, Ogan-Ama narrowly surrendered second place to his Akwa Ibom counterpart to land his second bronze of the day, in the 200 metres boys, while age-mate Honest Dike of Baptist Vocational College, Ahoada also landed bronze in the 800 metres boys, behind Taraba and Gombe.
The second gold medal of the day for Team Rivers came in the final of baseball for boys. The team found themselves one run down before rallying to beat Kwara by 4 runs to 3.
The game which was almost marred by trouble was disrupted when the crowd, solidly behind the Rivers side perceived some fowl officiating.
However, the team, which according to Coach Fineface Fate and manager, Shaibu Adamson has been together for about a year, came from behind to win, with runs from Abdulkadiri Idowu, Yusuf Sodiq, Abdulfatai Abdullahi and Matthew Ayoola.
The games ended yesterday with the closing ceremony.
Sports
Bakery Worker Secures Gold For Anambra In Asaba
Anambra State Karateka, Goodluck Njoku defeated Joshua Ehiozubue from Lagos State with 7-0 points on Friday to win a gold medal in the 50kg boys karate event at the ongoing National Youth Games in Asaba, Delta State.
The newly crowned 50kg champion revealed that he works in the bakery to support himself and to avoid social vices.
The 13-year-old said that it was while he was on his way to work that he met Sensei Godwin Okoro who introduced him to karate. Making his debut at the 2023 Youth Games,
Njoku promised not to disappoint the state in future national championships, noting that this is just the beginning.
“I want to thank God Almighty for his goodness and mercies in my life. In my category, I was the shortest, and I still won the gold medal. During the holidays, I work in the bakery to support myself and my parents because I do not want to remain idle.
“I attend Okpoko Community Primary School, and after closing hours, I still go to the bakery to make a little money. One day, Sensei Godwin Okoro saw me and decided to introduce me to karate. I do not know what he saw in me, but I thank God he took me in.
“The state has given me the necessary exposure at the National Youth Games, and this is an opportunity to give back to the state via winning medals. I want to assure you that this is just the beginning of the success story,” he said.
Sports
Squash Top Seeds Show Class At Classics
Top seeds, Onaopemipo Adegoke and Rophiat Abudulazeez showed class after winning the maiden edition of the Bolatito Adeyemo Squash Classics held at the Teslim Balogun Stadium at the weekend.
Top 16 players made up of eight men and eight women competed at the two-day tournament.
Adegoke who recently won his first Professional Squash Association (PSA) tournament, defeated Gabriel Olufunmilayo 3-2 to clinch the men’s trophy.
Abudulazeez defeated Jadesola Olatunji 3-0 to reach the finals, while Adegoke defeated Kehinde Samuel by 3-0 to advance into the finals.
Abudulazeez defeated Mistura Durosinlorun 3-1 as she maintained dominance in the women’s category.
For her feat, Abudulazeez went home with N100,000 while Durosinlorun took N60, 000 home while Olatunji and Isaac humbly went home with N30,000 each.
“My trip to Namibia really got me tired but we can’t just ignore this tournament. My game in Namibia also helped but I’m really fagged out,” she said.
Adegoke said that training hard and having played in highly competitive tournaments in recent times have helped to keep him in form.
“Winning my first PSA title in Namibia was a dream come true, there was minus zero support from the audience but with God’s grace and a healthy mental strength I was able to keep it together,” he said.
Prize money for the men’s category is N130,000 while the second position goes home with N80,000 while the third position and fourth position goes home with N40,000 and N20,000 respectively.
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