Female medallist seeks AFN’s recognition for international competitions

Blossom Akpedeye

Blossom Akpedeye, a 200m gold medallist in the youth category at the second Top Sprinter and Lagos Relays has urged the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) to give her a chance to represent country.

15-year-old Akpedeye was disqualified at the 2016 Dr D.K. Olukoya U-18 Athletics Championships for being underage.

Akpedeye, who vowed to prove her mettle to get AFN’s recognition, won one gold and a bronze medal at the Top Sprinter events which held from Sept. 29 to Oct. 1 at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos.

In a report she says she hopes to be given a chance in 2017 to achieve her dream of being the next fastest Nigerian female athlete in the 100m and 200m.

“Hopefully, I pray that AFN notices me in 2017 and I promise to be one of the best youths in Nigerian athletics.

“I will not disappoint the country because this is my dream.

“I hope to be better than Blessing Okagbare but I can’t prove this if I am not given the opportunity,’’ she said.

Ighoruemu, Akpedeye’s father said he believed in his daughter’s talent and was ready to support her to any length to achieve her dreams.

“She is a talented athlete, all she needs is acceptance and exposure, my greatest dream for her is to be like Okagbare or even surpass Okagbare’s record.

“Parents should also not hesitate to help their children to actualize their dreams, especially if it is a good one. I am ready to support mine,’’ he said.

NAN reports that Top Sprinter and Lagos Relays were initiated last year by “Making of Champions’’, a Lagos-based athletics consulting firm to discover and groom talents for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Japan.

Comments

Pope not involved in Colombian peace deal- Vatican

Pope Francis Pope Francis has turned down a request to play a role in the peace deal between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebel group. The Vatican in a statement issued on Wednesday in in Vatican City said that an invitation was sent to his Holiness in early August to appoint a representative to participate in the committee that selected the judges for the talks. The statement said that though Pope Francis supported the peace process, he, however, reiterated that he would not get involved in Colombian peace deal. It said that Pope was praying for the enlightenment of the hearts and minds of those who were called to promote the common good of the Colombian nation. A deal was announced last week, putting an end to five decades of internal conflict between government forces and the FARC rebels. The agreement, which needed to be ratified through a referendum in Oct. 2, would entail setting up a special court to grant amnesties or pu...

Houthis Claim Attack on Central Israel in Response to Gaza ‘Massacres’

The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has taken a concerning regional turn as the Houthi rebels in Yemen claimed responsibility for an attack on central Israel. The group announced this as part of their escalating response to what they describe as "massacres" in Gaza amid the Israeli military’s operations in the strip. Details of the Attack The Houthis, a Shiite militant group with ties to Iran, declared that they launched missile and drone strikes targeting Israel. While the exact impact of these attacks remains unclear, reports suggest that Israel’s defense systems intercepted several threats over its airspace. This marks a significant escalation as the Houthis widen their involvement in the conflict beyond their typical operations within Yemen and neighboring Saudi Arabia. The Houthis’ Justification In their statement, the Houthis framed the attack as retaliation for Israel’s military actions in Gaza, which they characterized as indiscriminate bombings resultin...

Fall of Assad is a Blow to Russia's Prestige

The potential fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, a long-standing ally of Russia, would mark a turning point in Moscow’s global influence, particularly in the Middle East. Steve Rosenberg’s analysis underscores the profound implications for Russia, which has invested heavily—both militarily and politically—in ensuring Assad’s survival over the past decade. This article delves into why Assad’s downfall would strike at the core of Russian prestige and what it could mean for the broader geopolitical landscape. Russia's Strategic Commitment to Syria Since the outbreak of the Syrian civil war in 2011, Russia has been a staunch supporter of Assad's regime. In 2015, Moscow launched a military intervention that proved decisive in stabilizing Assad’s hold on power. This intervention solidified Russia's role as a key power broker in the Middle East and demonstrated its willingness to project military power far beyond its borders. Syria is not just an ally for Russia; it is a...

Global Naija Info

Search This Blog