National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
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Sport
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Eko 2012: Yunusa walks Rivers to gold IKENWA NNABUOGOR
T
eam Rivers’ Hussain Yunusa walked his way to gold medal in the 20km Walk event for men decided yesterday at the Teslim Balogun Stadium. Yunusa breasted the tape in 1 hour, 53 minutes, 38 seconds to win the coveted prize after beating Gbenga Amos and Ibrahim Joseph of Ogun and Rivers States respectively to silver and bronze medals finish respectively. The Rivers representative had shown promise in the preliminary round and it was not surprising he clinched the gold medal in the final which was hotly contested. He, however, beat his closest contestant by a fraction of four sec-
onds. Interestingly, Team Rivers later made a clean sweep of the gold medals in the 20km walk event, when it claimed the gold medal in the female category also yesterday. Joy Daniels clinched the gold medal when he returned a time of 1 hour, 59 minutes, 39.96 seconds to beat Bolanle Kazeem and Ugochi Obi of Delta and Imo states respectively. Kazeem breasted the tape after 2 hours, 8 minutes, 04.40 seconds to win the silver medal while Obi won the bronze medal with a time of 2 hours, 9 minutes, 43.16 seconds. “It wasn’t an easy race for me but all the same, it was dream come true,” Daniels told National Mirror after her feat.
David Mark
set to honour captain
vent in recognition of his ontribution to the development of the club during his ife time. Underwater Engineerng Limited, where Pallet was Executive Director, is ponsoring the competition which will feature male and emale golfers from all over Nigeria. National Mirror learnt that here will also be prizes for nearest to the PIN and the lonest drive for both men and women, even as a select group f Special Professional Golf-
ers have been invited to thrill the spectators and golfers expected to throng the venue. Caddy play-off and cocktail party for all golfers and guests will precede the tee-off on Saturday while a closing ceremony has been scheduled for Sunday. Meanwhile, Captain of the club, Commodore Sag Abbah, has commended the sponsor for its effort at lifting Dolphin Club to national prominence. “It is complimentary of our efforts at giving the club a befitting status,” Abbah said.
Commission Enugu, says ment for the illed for De-
Ineligibility: Delta, Kano get N.1m fines
T
he Nigeria Weightlifting Federation (NWF) yesterday fined Delta and Kano states N50,000 each for using ineligible weightlifters at the ongoing 18th National Sports Festival in Lagos. NWF Secretary, Uche Onwumeh, said that a female weightlifter, Bilikis Otunla (69kg) was caught representing Delta after attending two international competitions. Onwumeh said she was identified by some officials and reported to the judges, leading to her suspension from the festival by the NWF adjudicators. “An investigation was carried out and evidences confirmed that Otunla was faulty and Delta was therefore told to pay a fine of N50, 000 before the end of the competition,” Onwumeh said. According to Onwumeh, the Delta State Weightlifting Association coach is also warned to desist from acts capable of violating the rules governing the Games from achieving its aims. Also, a male weightlifter, Aminu Aliyu (77kg), from Kano was also discovered to have been using three different names to participate at the last three sports festivals after a petition by Delta. Onwumeh said Aliyu participated in the Gateway Games in 2006 in Abeokuta, KADA Games in 2010 in Kaduna and Garden City Games in 2011 in Port Harcourt. He was said to have used Aminu Aliyu, Aliyu Suleiman and Aminu Sale for the Games respectively.
…Ondo queries hockey team
ace gets date According to Coordinator in charge of the zone, Mr. Stanley Okebugwu, the race specifically designed for children between 9 and15 years, will be conducted in line with International Amateur Athletics Federation (IAAF) and Association of International Marathon and Distance Races (AIMS) guidelines. “The exercise is organised by the commission in conjunction with G.T. Ventures based in Enugu,” he said. The maiden edition held in December 2011 attracted well over 1,000 kids and Okebugwu expressed optimism that this year’s edition would attract more participants, considering the awareness being created by the commission. “We want to build friendship and integration among the children, develop spirit of discipline and skills associated with road races, to encourage all- round fitness of the growing child to discover talents,” he said, adding that the looming race would take place at the Michael Okpara Square Enugu, meandering through Presidential Road and terminating at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu with kids from Anambra, Ebonyi and Enugu states participating.
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T Opukin Agala (in blue) of Bayelsa and Idris Samaria of Lagos during their traditional wrestling bout. PHOTO:ADEMOLA AKINLABI
Olowora wins 5000m for Lagos IKENWA NNABUOGOR
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eam Lagos won the women’s 5000 metres gold yesterday as Aminat Olowora returned with a time of 18 minutes, 47.89 seconds to make hay. Olowora beat off stiff challenges from Team Delta’s Deborah Pam and Iwanger Akaha of Benue to silver and bronze medal finish respectively. Delta State’s Pam returned a time of 18 minutes, 58.96 seconds to beat the third placed
Akaha, who managed a time of 19 minutes, 07.96 seconds. Elated Olowora told National Mirror she was fulfilled to claim the ultimate prize and thanked Team Lagos for making it possible for her to make the state proud. “I’m so happy today and this moment will remain fresh in my memory for many years to come,” She said. “I look forward to winning more laurels in future. I thank everyone who made it possible for me to achieve this feat.”
he Ondo State Sports Council (OSSC) has queried the coach of its female hockey team and the secretary of the state’s Hockey Association over the team’s disqualification at the ongoing National Sports Festival in Lagos. Chairman of the OSSC, Bamido Omogbehin, disclosed this yesterday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). He said the council was waiting for explanations from the coach and the secretary on why the team earned the disqualification from the competition. “When we were giving awards to athletes, I stressed on their being good ambassadors of the state. It is not compulsory that we win in all events; anybody that cheats acts on his own, not on behalf of the council. “Queries have been handed down to the coach and the secretary of the association, and they have been asked to reply quickly,” he said. Two Ondo hockey players, Bamitale Bamidele and Linda Nwafor, presented fake identification cards during their group game against Team Lagos, leading to their withdrawal and disqualification of their team. General Manager of the OSSC, Idowu Akinbulumo, however, advised coaches to avoid any acts that could tarnish the state’s image.