Former National Youth champion, Godfirst Samson; Rita Ogene of FCT and Rustum Francis of Cross Rivers state are the biggest winners of the recently concluded 2019 National Karate Championships in Lafia, Nasarawa state.
The fast rising Godfirst Samson defeated former Youth champion Elizabeth Oghenevwogaga of Delta state in the final of the -55KG women’s category.
Samson told www.aclsports.com that she was not tensed fighting the former champion.
The 100 level Human Kinetics student of the University of Lagos said, “I felt a little bit nervous fighting against Elizabeth Oghenevwogaga because I defeated her at the 2018 National Sports Festival in Abuja. Beating her again at the national open championship means I am improving”.
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Samson said she is ready to represent the country at the Union of African Karate Federations (UFAK) later this month.
She said, “I feel ready, for the Union of African Karate Federations (UFAK). I know I performed better at the National Championship compared to the 2018 National Sports Festival in Abuja because my prayer has always been to represent Nigeria on the continent and world. To achieve this, I know I have to create a distinction while competing here”.
A new champion emerged in the female -68kg, after 10 times national champion, Rita Ogene of FCT reclaimed her title after defeated most promising Karate athlete, Ujunwa Nwankwo of Anambra state.
National Sports Festival gold medallist, Ifeanyi Ogene of FCT lost his title to Rustum Francis of Cross Rivers state in the men’s -67kg.
Ogene told www.aclsports.com that some factors contributed to his inability to claim the gold medal.
He said, “For the first time after some years now, I could not get the gold this time. I have always had steady eyes on the gold each time I prepare for any championship. But this time, they were some factors that contributed to my inability to claim the gold again.
“I won a gold medal in my weight class at the last national sports festival in Abuja and before then I have been consistently winning gold”.
He further said the most important thing is to make the team going to the 2019 All African Games.
He said, “I will wait for the closed camp of the 2019 All African Games and do my best to make the team. Before then I am looking forward to the Zone 3 senior Union of African Karate Federations (UFAK) championships in Abidjan.
Results:
Individual Kata (male)
Gold- Oluwaseun Olorunbe, Silver- Kehinde Fagboro, Bronze- Bassey Andong and Bronze- Taiwo Fagboro
Individual Kata (female)
Gold- Elizabeth Oghenevwogaga, Silver- Bolanle Dauda, Bronze- Joy Dorkita and Bronze- Mary Stephen
Team Kata (male)
Gold- FCT, Silver- Nasarawa state, Bronze- Kwara state and Bronze- Enugu state
Team Kata (female)
Gold- Anambra state and Silver- FCT
-50KG (Female)
Gold- Aderonke Ogunsanwo (Delta state), Silver- Ngozi Okoro (Anambra state), Bronze- Faith Nelson (Delta state) and Bronze- Mary Stephen (Nasarawa state)
-55KG (Female)
Gold- Godfirst Samson (Bayelsa state), Silver- Elizabeth Oghenevwogaga (Delta state), Bronze- Chizoba Nwankwo (Delta state) and Bronze- Beauty Timothy (Nasarawa state)
-61KG (Female)
Gold- Chinoye Ibe (Lagos state), Silver- Bolanle Dauda (Ogun state), Bronze- Chioma Ani (Nasarawa state) and Bronze- Ruth Azike (Plateau state)
-68KG (Female)
Gold- Rita Ogene (FCT), Silver- Ujunwa Nwankwo (Anambra state), Bronze- Nneka Amos (Delta state) and Bronze- Blessing Shetimma (Kano state)
+68KG (Female)
Gold- Blessing Akpa (Delta state), Silver- Queen Orji (FCT), Bronze- Lillian Amah (Nasarawa state) and Bronze- Chikadiaobi Chinaemerem (Anambra state)
-60KG (Male)
Gold- Bassey Andong (Cross Rivers state), Silver- Saidu Ahmed (Nasarawa state), Bronze- Suleiman Shitu (Nasarawa state) and Bronze- Albert Light (Delta state)
-67KG (Male)
Gold- Rustum Francis (Cross Rivers state), Silver- Ifeanyi Ogene (FCT), Bronze- George Zion (Cross Rivers state) and Bronze- Peter Borishade (Anambra state)
-75KG (Male)
Gold- Ridwan Olaleye (Delta state), Silver- Ubung Ekebo (Cross Rivers state), Bronze- Christian Eziora (FCT) and Bronze- Okechukwu Nweke (Delta state)
-84KG (Male)
Gold- Joseph Omu (Delta state), Silver- Henry Aghomon (Edo state), Bronze- Favour Odoemelem (Imo state) and Bronze- Dauda Nasiru (Nasarawa state)
+84KG (Male)
Gold- Hope Adele (Delta state), Silver- Kika Okpaja (Nasarawa state), Bronze- Onyeka Nwafor (Bayelsa state) and Bronze- Nneji Daniel (Enugu state)
