ROAD TO GOLD: How eight-month pregnant Idrees defied odds to triumph at NSF
Published 4:37 am
In this report, EBENEZER BAJELA writes on the heroics of taekwondo athlete, Aminat Idrees, who won gold with an eight-month pregnancy
Is this supposed to be an interview,” Aminat Idrees asked, when our correspondent introduced himself to her in a telephone chat on Thursday.
Idrees wasn’t in the mood for any interview; she’s already had enough of media attention since her heroics Monday at the 20th National Sports Festival in Benin City, the Edo State capital.
Her story, complete with videos and pictures, went viral online after she had won gold in the taekwondo event with an eight-month pregnancy.
Duro Ikhazuagbe
The 20th edition of the National Sports Festival was officially declared open yesterday by Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo who was scheduled to perform the ceremony in addition to inaugurating the refurbished Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium complex was unavoidably absence as his plane could not land in the city’s airport due to the storms that accompanied the torrential rain that nearly marred activities yesterday evening.
Speaking while performing the opening ceremony of Edo 2020, Gov Obaseki recalled the events that led to the creation of the National Sports Festival were aimed primarily at unifying the country after the bitter experience of the civil war.
Rusty athletes in cloud nine as Edo 2020 begins The Punch
Published 3 April 2021
Local athletes, who haven’t competed for a very long time following the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, are happy to return to competitive action after the long-awaited Edo 2020 National Sports Festival commenced on Friday with the arrival of sportsmen and women in Benin City on Friday.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo will declare the event open on Tuesday.
Events at the 20th edition of the sports festival will start on April 6, with athletes across the federation already arriving in Benin City for Nigeria’s glamorous sporting event.
The festival, which was initially scheduled to hold from March 22 to April 1 2020, suffered its first postponement with just two days to the event and the festival, popularly known as the Nigerian Olympics, owing to the outbreak of coronavirus pandemic could not hold at the appointed time.
Sola Aiyepekun: Bringing Super Eagles back to Lagos is significant
On
Kindly Share This Story: Says we’re laying solid foundation for sustainable sports development in Lagos
During the week, our
Deputy Sports Editor, Jacob Ajom had a brief chat with the Chairman of the Lagos State Sports Commission, Sola Aiyepekun, in his office located at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.
The LSSC boss spoke on a variety of issues, including the quiet reforms he has initiated for sports development in Lagos. Excerpts.
How has it been so far?
So far so good, plenty of challenges. When I look back and try to surmise how long we have been here, I realise that I haven’t worked up to a year, given the time loss during the pandemic months.
The intensive and highly structured Closed Camping activities put in place by the Lagos State Sports Commission for Team Lagos Athletes in readiness for the just postponed 20th National Sports Festival tagged “EDO 2020” has been put to an end.
It would be recalled that the Lagos State Sports Commission Management commenced closed camping activities for Team Lagos Athletes to represent the Centre of Excellence at the Anglican House Bariga, one of the best hostels in Lagos, on February 6 to 10.
However, due to the announcement of the postponement of the National Sports Festival by the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development till April 8 – 22, the Lagos State Sports Commission closed the activities at the Closed Camp after training rigorously in the camp for five days.