The victorious junior National Gymnastics team to the just concluded African Level 16, Championship at
the High Performance Center in Pretoria, South Africa will return to
the country on Tuesday after an impressive outing at the championship.
The Team Nigeria side won 4 gold, 1 silver and 8 bronze medals to place 2nd behind the host nation, South Africa.
Over 1,900 gymnastics athletes from 30 countries participated at the keenly contested championship that was held between 21st and 26th of
July 2016. Nigeria displaced countries like Botswana, Mozambique,
Namibia and others to share the podium behind South Africa.
You
will recall that team Nigeria departed the shores of this country like
Orphans and with the help of spirited Nigerians who willingly donated
cash and other items to the young lads as the team was abandoned
throughout the duration of championship by the nation’s sports ministry
and the Gymnastics Federation of Nigeria, However this did not
discourage the lads from putting their best all through the competition.
Asemota
Daniella, Mindy Akinbobore, Ememka Ekezie and Hariz Shehu won gold
medal at level 4 and 5 level Aerobics gymnastic respectively, Efeoghene
Agohgho won silver, Daniella Uzuegbu, Azeemah Shehu, Witheney Conffi
Spiff, Arianna Gbemudu, Odelia Ajayi, Adi Saad, and Amaka Asemota won
bronze medals each.
Coach
Tony Asuquo the first and only gymnastics coach in Nigeria to be
certified by the world gymnastics body also won a gold medal being the
most outstanding coach of the championship.
Speaking
from south Africa via telephone, Coach Tony Asuquo stated that
championship was an eye opener for the team and he expects the sports
ministry to build on the gains of the championship ahead of the next
Olympics.
“Coming
second behind South Africa was very massive for us despite the facts
that no funds or sponsorship came our way before the championship,
“We
could have done much better if we had better preparations but we only
trained with minimal resources and I am so impressed by the performances
of these kids.’’
Tony
Asuquo also seized the opportunity to appeal to the sports ministry to
host the team for doing the Nation proud in South Africa.
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