National Karate Champion, Ujunwa Nwankwo told www.aclsports.com that her sacrifices made in 2024 are not in vain as she targets 2 gold medals at the 2025 NSF
The West African Champion won three gold medals in the women’s +68kg weight class at the recently concluded 10th Zainab Saleh International Female Open Karate Championship in Lagos.
“First, I am excited and happy about winning three gold medals in the individual, Team Kumite, and Team Kata events. Winning three gold medals was no small feat; my sacrifices are not in vain,” she told www.aclsports.com
“Every drop of sweat, every early morning, every missed outing with friends has led me here. This victory proves that my commitment and persistence are worth it. I know there will always be obstacles; I am ready to face whatever comes my way. I can endure the struggles; that’s part of being an athlete.”
“My consistency can be attributed to self-motivation and discipline; I want to make a difference. I can’t reveal everything about my strategy yet, but I can promise that I am aiming for at least two gold medals at the 2025 National Sports Festival in Ogun State.
“The upcoming National Sports Festival is another opportunity to showcase my skills and be a pivotal moment in my career. There will be a change in the game,” she hinted
As much as Nwankwo hoped for the opportunity to compete in the 2027 African Games, Ujunwa said, “The final decision lay with the federation and I want to believe It is not just about performance and consistency. Sometimes, it feels these factors don’t matter at all, especially after what happened in the last African Games in Ghana”.
She reaffirmed her commitment to her dreams of becoming an Olympian.
She said, “My sacrifices are not about medals or accolades; they are about proving to myself that I can rise again and become an Olympian in the near future.”
