NAN-84
Race
By Dorcas Jonah
Abuja, Oct. 14, 2016 (NAN) The Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung, has said that Nigeria will be one of the major contender in water sports in 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, Japan.
Dalung said this at the 2016 Nigerian Army Sports Festival Boat Race event in Abuja on Friday.
According to him, the Nigeria army have venture into water sports and this is a very good development.
“We are sure that with the talent discover here, Nigeria will be a major contenders in water sports come 2020 Olympics.
Dalung said that Chierika Ukogu’s participation in water sports in the 2016 Rio Olympics broke the record of an African qualifying in water sport to semi final.
“Her performance sets the tune that Nigeria neglected water sports for a long time because she is coming to Olympics for the first time and set the world record in canon and rowing.
“This was one of the greatest achievements Nigeria had in the Olympics and judging by what has happen there today, we as sports administrators has been challenged to go back back to the drawing board.
“Look more of what we can do for water sports because certainly water sports have more medals than any other sports.
“I think that Nigeria can launch itself if we invest very well in water sports and the military is going to be a very good partner,’’ he said.
Dalung, however promised to assist the army to buy more boat to enable it consolidate training for the athletes that have been discovered.
Earlier, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, promised to establish sailing and open water club in all the military formations.
He said the army decided to move into competitive water sports to assist in the formation of its men and officers.
Retired Rear Admiral Festus Porbeni, President of Rowing Federation, while presenting a boat and paddle to Buratai, said it was a symbol to consolidate on the talent discovered in the event.
He said that water sports had 32 medals in Olympics and Nigeria stand a chance to reap from it if the talents discovered were nurtured.
Meanwhile, 3 Division came first in the boat race followed by 2 Division in the second place and 81 Division came third.
Some highlight of the event include an eight-year-old girl opening the event with the open water swimming followed by events like 100m open swimming for men and women.
The closing ceremony of the 2016 Nigerian Army Sports Festival will hold on Saturday at the Abuja National Stadium.(NAN)
DE/OFN
Edited by Felix Nwadioha