NAN-S-5
Athletes
By Olayinka Owolewa
Ilorin, May 9, 2017 (NAN) The Director of Sports in Kwara, Malam Tunde Kazeem, on Tuesday promised that the state government would continue to promote sports development.
Kazeem spoke in Ilorin while receiving the state’s victorious athletes, who participated in three major competitions within and outside the country.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that at the just-concluded First Ex-Pro National U-16 and U-19 Squash Championships held from April 26 to April 29 in Lagos, Kwara won a total of three gold, three silver and two bronze medals.
Faidat Soliu won gold medal in the U-19 girls by defeating Rofiat also of Kwara in the final by 3-2.
In the U-16 boys, Uthman Durosinlorun defeated Nasir Abdul Rahman also from Kwara in the final, while Rofiat Abdulazeez defeated Odunade Adeyi also of Kwara State in the final of the girls’ category.
Aminat Musa and Oluwafemilayo Seun won bronze medals.
Also, in the National Senior Championship held in Lagos, Lanre Abdulrahmam of Kwara won gold, defeating Sodiq Taiwo of Lagos State 3-2.
Similarly, in the Dart National Championship held from March 26 to April 1 in Kaduna, Elijah Asaolu of Kwara won silver and bronze medals.
Coach Bello Oyebanyi of Kwara, who represented the country, won two bronze medals in the just-concluded Para-Badminton International Championships held from April 25 to April 30 in Uganda.
Kazeem, said the government would continue to provide the enabling environment to make athletes excel in their careers.
The director of sports noted that the government would equally compensate the athletes and urged them not to relent in projecting the state through sports.
He also commended the athletes for winning laurels for the state, pledging that their welfare would be made a priority. (NAN)
OOH/ENN/PDE
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(Edited by Edwin Nwachukwu/Peter Ejiofor)