The maiden MOB National Taekwondo Team Championship recently took place at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium in Lagos, with Rivers State topping the medals table. The championship, which was sponsored by Senate Leader of the National Assembly, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, featured athletes from various states, clubs, and schools competing for honors. The event was a two-day affair that showcased the talents of young athletes in Nigeria.
Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, who sponsored the tournament, announced that the competition will become an annual event. He made this announcement at the conclusion of the championship, expressing his satisfaction with the standard of the competition. According to Bamidele, the championship will rotate among the geopolitical zones in the country, with the second edition scheduled to take place at Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos.
Rivers State dominated the championship, winning three gold medals and one silver medal. Lagos State followed closely, securing two gold medals, three silver medals, and one bronze medal. N-Youth finished third with one gold medal and one silver medal. The junior male competition saw All Best Club winning gold, while Lagos State took silver and AIMAAN claimed bronze.
In the junior female category, Ondo State emerged as the gold medal winner, ahead of N-Youth Club and Lagos State. Rivers State won gold in the senior mixed competition, with Comprehensive Club taking silver and University of Lagos A winning bronze. The junior mixed category saw N-Youth Club claim gold, while Lagos State and Ondo State took silver and bronze respectively.
Rivers State continued to excel, winning gold in the senior female category, with University of Lagos taking silver and Osun State bronze. In the senior male category, Rivers State won gold, Sky Star Club claimed silver, and Comprehensive Club took bronze. The championship featured a total of athletes from different states, clubs, and schools.
National Taekwondo Federation President, Tayo Popoola, expressed satisfaction with the standard of the championship. He noted that the federation is working hard to raise the game and make taekwondo a choice sport in Nigeria. According to Popoola, the federation is having sleepless nights to ensure that they can compete with the rest of the world.
As a token of appreciation, Senator Bamidele announced a surprise reward for all participants at the championship. He doubled the prize money of all the athletes and provided an additional special cash package for officials who contributed to the development of the game. The reward aims to motivate athletes and officials to continue promoting taekwondo in Nigeria.
Key points
- Rivers State topped the medals table with three gold and one silver medal.
- The championship will become an annual event, rotating among the geopolitical zones in the country.
- Senator Opeyemi Bamidele doubled the prize money of all athletes and provided an additional special cash package for officials.
