Two teenagers from the Invited Junior Athletes (IJA) contingent Amarachi Chijioke and Scholastical Tekumbur have defeated elite competitors to clinch two gold medals, one silver, and one bronze in the women’s 45kg weightlifting event at the ongoing National Sports Festival (NSF) in Abeokuta.
Penpushing reports that the feat recorded on Sunday by the teenagers sent an early shockwave through the competition which spotlighted the promise of Nigeria’s next generation of champions
The weightlifting event was held at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Orientation Camp in Sagamu, alongside kung fu, deaf badminton, and badminton, going on in Ikenne and Abeokuta respectively.
Penpushing further reports that Chijioke emerged as the standout performer, at the day’s winning two gold medals in the clean and jerk category with a best lift of 82kg.
The record showed that her total haul stood at 146kg, enough to secure top position, while her teammate, Scholastical Tekumbur, equally added to the medal tally by taking bronze in the clean and jerk with a lift of 78kg.
Penpushing also reports that the Rivers State’s Christina Allorima finished ahead of her with a silver-winning lift of 81kg, and in the snatch segment, Ronke Olarinoye of Lagos State clinched the gold medal with a best lift of 65kg.
The Invited Junior Athletes (IJA) Chijioke narrowly missed out on the top spot, lifting 64kg to settle for silver, while Allorima secured her second bronze of the event with a lift of 61kg, as Olarinoye’s medal, awarded at exactly 12:57 p.m., is a strong contender for the first gold of the 2024 Games, pending confirmation from the Main Organising Committee.
Penpushing reports that Invited Junior Athletes (IJA) team comprises over 100 teenagers selected from across Nigeria to test their skills against more experienced athletes, the initiative introduced by the National Sports Commission.
The initiative is aimed at accelerating the development of young talent by exposing them to top-tier competition early in their careers, and the athletes are competing in athletics, badminton, football, para-athletics, swimming, table tennis, tennis, wrestling, and weightlifting.
Penpushing further reports that the Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Bukola Olopade, while speaking explained the motivation behind the Invited Junior Athletes (IJA) concept.
“We created the Invited Junior Athletes concept because we believe in the talents of young people who are bound in this country. If you have gone to the Youth Games and you are a champion, let us then see how you grow into the elite cadre. And the only way you can grow into that cadre is by competing and beating the elite athletes’, he stated
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