The Blended Martial Arts (MMA) athletes of Group Nigeria, comprising 9 fighters, are having fun with their expertise on the ongoing thirteenth African Video games in Ghana the place they featured in 9 weight classes.
The fighters, towards all odds, gained 5 gold, three silver and one bronze medals within the MMA class.
Muzan Richard gained the lads's 120.5kg gold medal by beating Dago Fanny of Ivory Coast. Eze Daniel (83.9kg), Busayo Idowu (52.2kg), Olanike Sodiq (61.2kg) and Pleasure Obanla (65.8kg) additionally gained gold medals of their respective classes.
The silver medalists are Blessing Karo (61.2kg), Bernard Eweh (65.8kg) and Winifred Peter (47.6kg), whereas the solo bronze medalist is Albert Idowu (70.3kg).
To qualify for the African Video games, athletes needed to undergo the MMA championship held in February by the Boxing and MMA Corridor of Fame, which represents the game's world governing physique, the World Affiliation of Blended Martial Arts (GAMMA).
Talking not too long ago to the contingent by the administration of Continental Lodge, Lagos, the athletes lamented that the nation was paying little consideration to their preparation for the Video games, saying the 9 MMA fighters had been on a tortuous street journey of greater than 10 o'clock. , to be in Ghana.
Nonetheless, they added that their dedication to excel towards robust competitors from the Republic of Benin, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Egypt, Sudan, Togo, Uganda, Libya and host nation Ghana has pushed them to success.
Gold medalist, Obanla, stated she was buoyed by Nigeria's 'No gree for No one' spirit, including that she was decided to place the nation's title on the MMA map.
Silver medalist Idowu, who stated she began out as a boxer, described her expertise in Accra as “price it,” including that her ambition is to turn out to be a world champion like Usman Kamaru.
The Managing Director of Continental Group Nigeria, Karl Hala, counseled the staff for making Nigeria proud in Ghana and described the medalists as position fashions for the nation's youth.
Hala expressed his satisfaction with the staff's efficiency, noting that their achievements replicate the significance of sports activities and youth help.
In line with Hala, the success of the athletes has proven that there’s a brilliant future and hope for a protracted and fruitful collaboration with Boxing and MMA Corridor of Fame (HOF).
Additionally talking on the reception, Secretary Basic of Boxing and MMA Corridor of Fame, Kehinde Soyannwo, defined that the nationwide match on the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos State, wherein 60 athletes from totally different states of the nation participated, helped choose a robust nationwide staff. staff to characterize Nigeria on the African Video games.
In line with Soyannwo, the mission of the Boxing and MMA Corridor of Fame is to make Nigeria among the best novice {and professional} fight sports activities nations on the planet.