IKPO IGBINOBA reporting from Ibadan
With 20 states of the federation and eleven clubs in Ibadan for the ongoing Oshodi Judo Foundation National Open Championship, the event has shattered recent records of attendance.
In recent history, no judo championship has enjoyed such massive turnout of participants as the Ibadan fiesta.
Even in the sport’s glorious days, it seldom enjoyed such huge turnout of states and clubs attending national championships.
The states that are in Ibadan with officials and athletes include hosts Oyo, Osun, Ogun, Ondo, Ekiti, and Lagos.
Others are Edo, Bayelsa, Rivers, Kano, Kogi, Kaduna, Kwara, Plateau, Nassarawa, Benue, Anambra, Enugu and FCT.
The military and para military organisations on parade include the Nigeria Navy, NN, the Nigeria Police Force, NPF, anf the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps,NSCDC.
The clubs are the Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, Oshodi Judo Club, Damisa Judo Club, Osawaru Joseph Judo Club, Gbayi Judo Club, Loveth Howell Judo Club, Edokpolor Judo Club and Oke Ogun Judo Club.
Meanwhile one of Nigeria’s judokas in the diaspora, Mr. Esosa Aghatatikolo has praised the sponsor and organisers of the championship for smooth and rancour free event.
The judoka who is based in the United States of America said he was impressed with the organisational standard.
According to him “I have to salute the sponsor, Dr. Musa Oshodi and the Nigeria Judo Federation, NJF for this event.
“With what I have seen so far here in Ibadan, the future is very bright for Nigerian judo”.
Aside, the standard of organisation, Esosa said the judokas also put up great performance.
He noted “For judokas who don’t have the benefits of regular Championships, I think they have given a good account of themselves.”
Esosa said his compatriots in the diaspora would be willing to support Nigerian judo once a responsible, result-oriented and focused leadership takes over the rein of power in the federation.
“Those of us in the diaspora are ready and willing to support Nigeria Judo once the right leadership is in place. Nigerian Judo provided the platform for us to succeed and we must give back to it” he added.
The five day Judo fiesta which featured a two-day refresher course will end today at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium (formerly Liberty Stadium).
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