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National Sports Festival Eko 2012
he Nigeria Squash Federation (NSF) on Friday commended players and officials participating in the ongoing 18th National Sports Festival (NSF) for working to enhance the profile of the sport. Femi Ajagbe, the federation’s president, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the resurgence being experienced in the sport would be sustained beyond ‘Eko 2012’ National Sports Festival. Ajagbe added that squash had once more attracted the attention of some notable stakeholders who had previously adopted a lukewarm approach to the activities of the federation at the sports festival. “There is more awareness now for the sport, which is attracting stakeholders. Next year will be a better year for squash as
SPORT
December 8, 2012
Squash is regaining its prominence, says NSF president
this year is ending on a good note with the sports festival. “Our objective is to sustain the passion these players and officials have and to turn that passion into success; our federation is going to do everything
humanly possible to get squash to its peak. “With the way our players are now, with more regular competitions and exposure, we will be a force to be reckoned with internationally,” he said.
Team Lagos female soccer team celebrating their qualification into final after beating Osun 5-0 yesterday. PHOTO: ADEMOLA AKINLABI
Rivers, Delta claim gold in badminton men, women singles
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ivers’ Clement Korobakpo and Dorcas Adesokan of Delta have respectively emerged the badminton men and women’s singles gold medallists at the ongoing 18th National Sports Festival in Lagos. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Korobakpo defeated Gideon Babalola of Delta 2- 0 to win the men’s gold, while Adesokan thrashed Augustine Sunday of FCT, also by 2-0, to win the women’s gold. It was Korobakpo third and last time to feature in the festival and was full of joy retiring from the biennial event with a gold medal. “It is a long life and a
proud achievement. I am proud to retire from the festival with the ultimate medal. For me, it is a victory I worked very hard for and I really thank God for this one. “I won a silver in the last Games in Port-Harcourt; I can blame that loss to the poor quality of facilities, as compared with what obtains in Lagos. “I am a gold medalist today and I’m proud and I now look forward to the doubles and mixed doubles events and hopefully a national call up,” Korobakpo added. Delta Head Coach, Fatai Tokosi, said that he had mixed feelings towards the gold and silver medals his athletes won.
“We won the women’s singles gold but lost the men’s singles gold to Rivers. This was because our men’s finalist, Babalola, was exhausted. “Anyway, I am still impressed with my players’ performance. That is sports for you; you either lose or win. Let just say the better side won today,” Tokosi said. Babalola, the men’s singles silver medallist, said that although he worked for the gold medal, he was satisfied with the silver. Adesokan, the women’s singles champion said that she was still nursing the ambition of picking the women’s and the mixed doubles gold medals.
Sabi pledges improved welfare for Kwara athletes IFEANYI EDUZOR
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hairman of Kwara State House of Assembly Committee on Sports, Alhaji Adamu Ibrahim Sabi says that the State House of Assembly will liaise with the State Government to ensure that
The president also said that newly-discovered talents from the sports fiesta would be systematically groomed and exposed to the right kind of competitions that would sharpen their competitive edge.
there is improved welfare package for sportsmen and women in the state. He stated this when he led members of his committee to visit the state’s contingent at the on-going National Sports Festival tagged “Eko 2012”. According to him, his committee decided to em-
bark on the visit, to get first-hand information about the athletes’ welfare and the problems they are encountering at the festival as well as inspect facilities put on ground by Lagos State for the festival to enable it advice Kwara State Government on sports development in the state.
SAYO OGUNDEJI
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eam Delta’s gold medalist in Greeco-Roman wrestling event, Soso Tamara, has stated his desire to bring honour to the country by not only qualifying for the Brazil 2016 Olympics, but to also win medals at the events. Tamara emerged as one of the best performers for his state at the National Sports Festival, winning
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Team Rivers edge out Team Lagos to reach basketball final
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ivers’ men basketball team has defeated Team Lagos by 65 to 58 in the ongoing 18th National Sports Festival, “Eko 2012”. By the defeat, Team Lagos has lost the chance to play in the final of the competition. The match witnessed several interruptions by angry fans during the fourth quarter when Team Lagos was down by 10 points. This development forced the officials to halt the game for 20 minutes in last period of the game. Team Rivers Coach Fubara Oyenabor expressed delight on the outcome of the result saying that he was confident that
his team would outscore Team Lagos as soon as the game started. “I am happy we have reached the basketball final as defending champions, now we have a chance to prove that we are no pushovers in basketball. “Team Lagos and its fans should be able to accept defeat when it comes, the sports festival is to bring people together and not for war,” Oyenabor said. In his reactions, Team Lagos Coach Mark Balogun revealed that his boys lost the game due to loss of concentration and fatigue. In other fixtures, Oyo beat Plateau by 59-55 while Rivers trounced FCT by 52-45 to book a place in the final.
Wrestling: Delta’s gold medalist eyes Rio 2016 Olympic glory two gold medals in the two events he participated in and the Delta State-born athlete believes the experience he has garnered over the years will make him a medal hopeful come 2016. According to Tamara, who is making his final appearance at the bi-annual event having appeared in the last two editions, said all his efforts will be directed at qualifying for the next edition of the Olympics. “I am extremely happy
with my performance at this tournament and I am already planning on how to build on this outing by making sure I stay focused and qualify for the next Olympics which is one of the greatest competitions on earth. “It has been my dream to win laurels for my state and the country as a whole and I believe this sports festival has reawakened that consciousness in me which I will work on in order to actualise my dream,” he said.
Ondo coach attributes gains in swimming to regular training
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egina Enofe, Head Coach, Ondo State Swimming Association on Friday attributed her swimmers successes at the ongoing 18th National Sports Festival in Lagos to proper use of the Olympic-size swimming pool in Akure. Enofe said the state swimmers had tremendously improved their performance since they started using the facility. She expressed the belief that her swimmers would soon begin to represent Nigeria in international tournaments. Enofe said the swimmers had so far won five gold, two silver and four
L-R: Johnson Ebimokemeof Rivers (sliver medalist), Williams Gbekemiye, Lagos (gold medalist) and Oduni Amukali of Delta (bronze medalist) during the swimming medal presentation at the National Sports Festival PHOTO:ADEMOLA AKINLABI in Lagos yesterday.
bronze medals at the Games, tagged “Eko 2012”. It will be recalled that they won one gold, nine
silver and 15 bronze in swimming at the 17th edition of the festival in Port Harcourt in 2011.