NAN-S-7
Wrap-up
By Olanrewaju Akojede
Lagos, Oct. 30, 2017 (NAN) The just-concluded 2nd Africa (CANA) Zone 2 Junior Swimming Championships has come and gone but left Nigerians with a taste of what they have been missing all these years.
The competition afforded the authorities the opportunity to test run the refurbished Olympic-size Swimming Pool at the National Stadium, Lagos, after close to two decades of being unused.
The event also provided the platform for Anita Okpochini to emerge as one of the outstanding performers at the aquatic event.
Okpochini, the new golden girl of the championships, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Lagos that she was nursing the ambition of participating in the Olympic Games.
The talented swimmer who emerged the Best Swimmer in the Girls U-15-16 Category, added that Nigeria not only deserved to be in the Olympics but to win medals.
“I am excited winning in my category, I am grateful to God that I am a swimmer; I love swimming and I practice all the time, I want a greater thing in swimming.
“I know that my coach will be happy with my performance because he always encourages me to train harder and I also have a good coach.
“It is my dream to be in the Olympics, my coach often tells me that is the only way to be an accomplished swimmer.
“I watched some clips on swimming from the last Olympics, and it is enough to stand in front of the world like today when the National Anthem is being played for you,’’ she said.
Okpochini, who won four gold medals and also emerged as a new record holder in her category, stressed that with determination and focus Nigeria could win medals in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics in Japan.
“From what we have been told when we had our trials, we are the hope for Nigeria in the coming swimming events at the Olympics.
“If we remain focused in our training we should do well enough to beat anybody in Africa and if we can make it to the Olympics, we can also be world beaters.
“Aside our individual efforts, we will also need more competition to enhance our skills in the game, we can win in the Olympics,’’ she said.
In the same vein, one of Nigeria’s swimmers at the championships, Confidence Isobo, thanked the coaches for giving them the right type of training to win the tournament, adding that collective efforts was the key.
“Our coaches really tried their best when we were in camps; they were patient with us during trainings. Our trainings were not easy at all.
“We thank God that we are able to make Nigeria proud. Nigeria deserves to be champions because swimming does not take cheating at all,’’ he said.
Also, the new record holder in 50m Breaststroke Girls U15-16 Category, Toko Esther, who returned a time of 39.36, said she was grateful to her uncle who supported her ambition.
She erased the earlier record set by Nigeria’s Marian Ifeoluwa who returned the time of 40.58 set at the 2012 event in Akure.
The Kano-based Toko told NAN that the support she got from the Police College in Ikeja and her family spurred her to success at the championships.
“I got a lot of support from my family and the Police College, Ikeja, I was allowed to use their facilities free and I am grateful to them I owe them that.
“My uncle also supported my ambition because without his support I won’t be here today, I am excited that I have made them proud,’’ she told NAN.
NAN reports that Nigeria won the 10-nation 2nd Africa (CANA) Zone 2 Junior Championships with a total of 87 medals made up of 26 gold, 35 silver and 26 bronze medals.
Ghana came second with 12 gold, nine silver and six bronze medals making a total of 27 medals.
Senegal came third with eight gold, three silver and six bronze medals, winning a total of 17 medals.
For the individual awards, Jackson Kon from Ghana won the Best Swimmers Boys U13-14 category with four gold and three silver medals. He also set three new tournaments record.
Kow set a new record in the 200m freestyle with 2:17.92 to erase the old record of 2:21.45 set by Nigeria s Forcado Jonas record of 2:2145.
He created a new record of 1:19.18 in the 100m Breaststroke to improve on Precious Odiches 1:20.53 set at the 2012 maiden championships in Akure.
Kows 26.86 in the 50m freestyle also brushed aside the record of 27.30 set by Nigerias Enyekanime Duke at the Akure event.
Best Swimmers Boys U15-16 Category was won by Ndiaye Amoudu from Senegal with eight gold, 1 silver and one bronze, six of which are new tournaments record.
He created a new record in 100m breaststroke with the record of 1:14.59 to erase the 1:14.89 record set by Nigeria’s Foresight Osamezu in the 2012.
He also set a new record of 2:29.75 to beat Nigeria’s Pere Dinos record of 2:36.20 in the 200m Backstroke.
In the 100m freestyle, Amoudus 56.81 record bettered Nigeria’s Teacher Opina.
Confirming his superiority in his category, he dumped out the record set by Nigeria’s Pere Dinos 200m Freestyle 2:15.73 to set a new record of 2:04.82.
Amoudu went ahead to set a new record in 200m individual medley when he clocked 2:25.74 against the Pere Dinos 2:34.75, a record set in Akure.
The Best Swimmers Girls U13-14 went to Ghana’s Maayaa Ayawere with four gold and one silver. She also has three new tournament record under her belt.
Ayawere set a new record in 100m freestyle with 1:07.02 to erase the 1:11.45 record set by Oluchi Obi.
She further set another record in the 50m freestyle with 29.29 to erase the Nigeria’s Goodnews Erigis 31.36 at the 2012 edition in Akure.
She also broke Fabisola Adamolekun’s record of 34.17 in the 50m Butterfly record when she returned a time of 32.17.
Nigeria’s male team were awarded the Outstanding Team with 13 gold, 17 silver and 15 bronze medals, while their female counterparts also emerged best overall with 13 gold, 17 silver and nine bronze medals.
The organisers, however, announced that the 2018 edition will be hosted by Senegal in Dakar, while the 2019 will be staged in Ghana. (NAN)
KOJE/ERO
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(Edited by Emmanuel Okara/Peter Ejiofor)