Former Nigerian athlete, Princess Mabel Madojiemu has continued to shower encomium on participating athletes for their wonderful performance at the recent World School Sports Athletics trials which held in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Nigeria School Sports Federation NSSF organised the World School Sports Athletics trials to select Nigeria’s contingent for the 2023 World School Athletics Championships slated for later in the year.
20 athletes from Princess Mabel Madojiemu sponsored U-15 Athletics/Competitions took part in the World School Athletics trials.
The young athletes picked a bronze medal and were applauded for their great feat despite the little time available for training.
Reacting to their performance, Princess Madojiemu congratulated them for stepping up to horn their talents among their relatively older counterparts.
“I was thrilled with their performance and hope they keep it up in their subsequent competitions, myself and a colleague Friday Enoge assisted in sponsoring the Athletes to Ogun State,”she said.
Over 1300 participants from primary and secondary schools across 24 states, including Lagos, Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa and hosts, Ogun, participated in the trials to select Nigeria’s contingent for the 2023 World School Athletics Championships slated for later in the year.
Princess Madojiemu, also hailed NSSF for the smooth organisation of the trials, which she said would help unearth fresh talents for the country.
Meanwhile, some of the athletes will represent the country in Turkey in June/July tournament, others will compete with their counterparts across the globe in Brazil at the International School Sport Federation Gymnasiade for U-15 boys and girls in August.
At the finals of the event held at the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abeokuta, dignitaries, administrators and officials lauded the performance of the athletes and expressed optimism that the country will do well at the international championships.
The World Athletics Trials featured track and field events, with competitors in U-12, U-15 and U-18 showcasing the their talent.
President of the Nigeria School Sport Federation, Olabisi Joseph, stated that students selected from event will begin camping ahead of the country’s participation at the global events.
Joseph, who is also the Vice President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee, urged government, corporate organisations and well-meaning individuals to support the body in sponsoring the athletes to Turkey, stating that the NSSF will commence preparations soon in order to ensure that the athletes excel at the ISF organised competitions.
Events competed for at the NSSF World School Athletics Trials include 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m, 3000m, Long Jump, High Jump, Discuss and Shot Put for boys and girls.
