Sports Commission Archives

Gateway Games 2024: Teams, Players Battle for 46 Gold Medals in Table Tennis

Fola Badmus4 months ago4 months ago43 mins

Participants in the table tennis event of the 22nd National Sports Festival, tagged Gateway Games 2024, will be vying for a total of 46 gold medals up for grabs. The table tennis competition features athletes across three categories: able-bodied, para-athletes, and deaf athletes. Seven gold medals are available in the able-bodied category, while deaf athletes will contest for five gold medals. Para-athletes will compete for a whopping 34 gold medals across various events, including singles, doubles, mixed doubles, and team events. In the able-bodied category, athletes will compete in singles (for men and women), doubles (for men and women), mixed doubles, and team events (for men and women). Deaf athletes will contest in singles (men and women), doubles (men and women), and mixed doubles. Para-athletes will participate in four team events—men’s classes 1–5 and 6–10, and women’s classes 1–5 and 6–10. There will also be 18 singles events for men and women, eight doubles events, and four mixed doubles events. Delta State dominates the seeding lists for both able-bodied and para-athlete categories. Fatimo Bello of Delta State is the top seed in the women’s singles, while Bayelsa’s Olajide Omotayo leads the men’s singles. Lagos and Oyo States top the seedings in the deaf singles events. According to the tournament referee, Lajide Ranti, this year’s tournament promises to be thrilling, especially with the inclusion of Invited Junior Athletes (IJA) by the National Sports Commission (NSC). Lajide said: “We are going to witness top-class table tennis, especially from players who recently featured in the ITTF World Championships in Doha, Qatar. The knockout format of this year’s tournament will make it even more exciting and competitive. I hope we can conclude all matches before the closing ceremony on May 29,” Ranti said. “The turnout of teams has been impressive, even from states that haven’t traditionally featured in the table tennis events of the NSF. Beyond the medals, I believe the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) will be able to discover new talents for future development,” he added.

SWAN congratulates Olopade as DG Sports Commission, Super Eagles

Fola Badmus10 months ago10 months ago04 mins

The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) has congratulated Hon. Bukola Olopade on his appointment as the Director-General of National Sports Commission (NSC). In a letter to the new NSC DG dated November 15, 2024, through the Association’s Secretary-General, Amb. Ikenna Okonkwo, SWAN President, Isaiah Benjamin, described the appointment of Olopade as a round peg in a round hole. Benjamin expressed confidence that with the indepth knowledge and experience of Olopade over the years in the Nigeria’s Sports, the sector is about to excel more than ever before. The number sports writer in Nigeria is also optimistic that the combination of the new NSC DG and the Chairman of the Commission, Mallam Shehu Dikko, will take Nigerian Sports to greater heights. Part of thr letter to Olapade reads, “No doubt your appointment is a testament of your unwavering commitment to sports development in Nigeria. “As sporting media, we are quite optimistic in your ability to make remarkable impact within Nigerian sporting architecture as we assure you of our support as always. Being a friend of the media, we believe our partnership will continue to be strengthened as you creatively evolve a progressive and sustainable grassroots development strategy for Nigeria’s Sports. “Also, we assure of our readiness to support you, just as we always play our watchdog role in highlighting areas the present administration could explore in reviving the huge sporting sector.” Meanwhile, SWAN has commended the Super Eagles of Nigeria for it’s renewed commitment which ensured that they clinched the ticket to 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. SWAN in a statement on Friday said the team’s early qualification is a testament of a well orchestrated plan and cooperation by relevant stakeholders including the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Technical Crew and Players of Super Eagles. “SWAN welcomes the qualification of Super Eagles to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations without breaking sweat. This goes to show the quality of the current Super Eagles coupled with the level of organisation by the Nigeria Football Federation,” the SWAN President said. President Benjamin then urged NFF hierarchy and all concerned to ensure early and efficient preparation of Super Eagles to the Nations Cup scheduled for Morocco, adding, “having won AFCON three times in history and finishing second best in 2023 edition, it’s time to push harder to win the fourth laurel in Morocco.” The 2025 AFCON is scheduled for December 21, 2025 to January 18, 2026.