27th August, 2013
Lagos State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Wahid Enitan Oshodi has said that with the new arrival of gymnastic equipment, the state’s gymnasts have brighter future ahead of them.
Oshodi said this at the closing ceremony of Lagos State Gymnastics Grassroots Competition held at the Mobolaji Bank Anthony Sports Complex, Rowe Park, Yaba.
Oshodi said that the state government bought new set of gymnastic equipment that will help the athletes train and prepare ahead of the National Youth Games in Abuja later in the year and 2014 National Sports Festival and other national competitions.
“I am happy that the gymnastic equipment came at the time the state is preparing for the Youth Games in Abuja. I believe that the athletes will make use of all these equipments to brighten their chances in the competitions,” he said.
Oshodi said the gymnasts need better equipment to train if they want to compete with their counterparts at the world stage.
“I see a brighter future for our gymnasts in Lagos. They have been clamouring for modern equipment for a very long and I am happy that we have provided them first class equipment to enhance their performance in future competitions,” he said.
Commenting on the performance of the athletes at the grassroots competition, Oshodi, who is also the president of Nigeria Table Tennis Federation, NTTF, said that he was impressed with the artistic display of the athletes, adding that Lagos will continue to support the athletes and their association.
One of the gymnasts, Monday Mba of Lee Gymnastic Club, said the new equipment will help prepare for future competitions. He charged the gymnastics association to organise regular tournament so that more talents will be discovered at their tender ages.
Monday, who won gold in the floor event of the grassroots competition, said Lagos will excel at the forthcoming National Youth Games.
Oyekunle Olajumoke, a member of Royal Gymnastic Club said that lack of equipment and dearth of competitions are the bane of the sport in the country. She said that regular competitions will help keep the athletes busy.
Olajumoke, who won silver in the floor event, thanked Lagos State Government for purchasing new equipment to make the sport grow in the state.
Eight clubs featured in the tournament that was organised by Lagos State Gymnastic Association inconjunction with the Ministry of Sports and Office of the Grassroots Sports Development.
—Sunday Akintoye