The President of Armwrestling Federation of Nigeria, Engineer Samuel Olatunji Jackson has revealed that the nation determined to not contest all classes on the current West Africa Para-Video games so as to not win each gold medal obtainable.
Engineer Jackson reckoned that successful all gold medals in The Rock Metropolis would have portrayed Nigeria as unhealthy hosts, therefore the choice to skip a few of the classes that have been contested.
He disclosed this throughout ‘Sizzling Seat’ section of Inside Naija Sports activities, a reside streaming programme on YouTube, which begins at 11:45am each Friday from the studio of Sports247 Naija TV.
Jackson identified that the pure bodily attributes of the common Nigerian make them effectively suited to sports activities occasions that require muscle tissue and energy, which is one purpose why the nation’s athletes excel in numerous classes of armwrestling contests.
He expatiated, “Nigeria has the potential to do effectively in most fight sports activities, together with armwrestling, due to our pure attributes and energy.
“One benefit of us is that, in no matter sport we discover ourselves, we now have the pure physique energy for it. We even have a physique weight that’s good for any fight sport.”
He disclosed additional that the Nigerian contingent on the current para-games in Abeokuta gained seven out of the ten gold medals obtainable even after the principles have been modified on the final minute and a few of their athletes needed to be upgraded to heavier classes.
The educated civil engineer, who lived in England for a number of years, added: “We didn’t count on that we’d get these seven gold medals, as a result of the principles of engagement have been modified once we received to Abeokuta. Nevertheless, the Nigerian mentality of never-say-die helped us.
“We even needed to transfer one athlete from 55kg to 70kg class, however the individual nonetheless gained a gold medal for us. We additionally realised that if we had put our athletes into every of the classes, we’d have gained all of them.
“However, pretty much as good hosts, we’re not egocentric. So, we allowed a few of the different nations to win medals as effectively,” joked Jackson, who additionally hinted that the federation’s subsequent goal is to host a world competitors.
