Sports
ANTHONY Asuquo, the coach of Tony International Gymnastics (TIG) club, has urged Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs), to sponsor gymnasts to attend international competitions.
Asuquo told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Abuja that lack of sponsors had been a challenge for the gymnasts to participate in major International championships.
He said that the parents sponsored their children to participate and represent Nigeria in the just-concluded International Club championship in South Africa.
However, he called on sponsors, support from philanthropist,NGOs, private and individual investors to support gymnasts to be able to reach greater expectations.
“ We are raising podium-finish gymnasts for the Olympics and in no distant time, Nigeria will be presenting many gymnasts at the Olympics and with the support of private organisations, we can achieve that success.
“We should be organizing competition frequently ,every three months and also do assessment programs for the gymnasts just to know what they have been able to learn, but all have to do with support and sponsors ,”he said.
He said that a total of nine gymnasts participated in the two-day event in South Africa and won seven medals, saying, ‘we have challenges going to the competition with VISA and funds for processing the tickets.
“ I encountered lots of challenges going for the competition. Such as VISA for the contingents and funds for processing the tickets wasn’t easy and I pray next time that we should get sponsors and more support.
“ I was able to carry these number of gymnasts without any sponsors from anybody.
” Their parents source out money for their own means for the gymnasts and with that support we were able to do to develop the talents of the kids.
“If we had gotten sponsors ,we would have taken large numbers of gymnasts going on for the championship.
“We would be able to discover more talents from them and we could have won more gold medals for the country.
“To compete among the best in South Africa with better facilities and win medals there, was amazing,” he said.
“It’s wasn’t easy, but we got a positive result for the country and we got five gold, one sliver, one bronze medals at the championship.
“ I am very impressed with the performance of the gymnasts that represented the country, they have made us proud,” he said.
NAN reports that Nigerian gymnasts at the just- concluded International Club championship in South Africa, from Aug. 12 to Aug. 13 .
NAN report that the gymnasts were Francisca Okpanku, Sofia Awah, Gbemisola Adebayo, Chinwendu Okpanku and Stephanie Onusiriuka, all won gold in their various level system categories.
Esther Awah won silver, while Adeela Adedeji won the bronze medal.(NAN)
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Tags: Anthony Asuquo Francisca Okpanku Gbemisola Adebayo Sofia Awah Tony International Gymnastics
