Sports
Throwing Shot Put Excites Me – Gold Medalist
A 2018 National Sports Festival (NSF) shot put gold medalist, Eucharia Ogbukwo, says the game excites her because of her passion for it.
Ogbukwo said this on Monday in an interview with newsmen in Lagos.
According to her, I love throwing the iron because I have always considered myself strong for the sport.
“I choose shot put because I love it with passion and it excites me. I have always known that I am a very strong lady from childhood. I just love to throw the iron.
“Though, a lot of people have told me to consider Discus and Hammer but I don’t really have passion for it,” she said.
Ogbukwo who threw a distance of 15.42m at the NSF said her target for the 2019 season was to make the standard for the All African Games and also win a medal, if selected.
“My aspiration in 2019 is to make the All African Games standard and not only making the standard but to also be a medalist.
“ I am very sure that if I train very hard with good facilities, I will win a medal,” she said.
The Mathematics graduate from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) said that she wished that shot putters would be given more recognition.
“My dream is for the Federation to remember us and believe in us. We blacks are so strong and if you watch the USA shot put throwers, it is dominated by blacks.
“If only more efforts are put in place to help us we would be more motivated to train harder,” she said.
The athlete who also won it in 2012 said Valerie Adams of New Zealand was her role model.
“My role model is Valerie Adams of New Zealand, she inspires me a lot. Even after she had given birth, she bounced back stronger and continued her dominance,” she said.
The athlete who placed fifth at the 2018 Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) championships in Asaba said that her major obstacle was finance.
She also said that her journey into shot put had not been easy, adding that throwers needed sponsorship.
“My journey has not really been easy; we need help and sponsors in throws.
“As throwers, we train more than five to six hours in a day because we have different training sessions and programmes unlike the runners.
“But my biggest challenge in sports is finance, no money to train properly’’,she said.
Ogbukwo, who began her sports career in 2009 said she couldn’t have achieved her feat without her coaches, Lumen Christi Family, who are always supporting her.
“I felt so great and amazed at my winning in Abuja. I dedicate the medal to my family and coaches for pushing me so hard.
“And above all I dedicate my medal to God Almighty and to Lumen Christi Family where I draw my strength from. Without God I wouldn’t have done it,” she said.
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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