Sport

Olude Kehinde Ajoke has emerged winner of the maiden edition of five kilometer race tagged “Ogun Women run”
The five kilometer race which took off from Sapon and terminated at MKO international stadium Kuto Abeokuta saw, Olude Kehinde Ajoke finishing the race at 20 minutes 04 seconds and went home with five hundred thousand naira prize money.


Ephraim Yemisi was the second fastest to get to the finish line after twenty minutes and forty nine seconds and was presented with a three hundred thousand naira cheque while Asekun Olayemi  finished on the podium as the second runner up at twenty one minutes and seven seconds and got two hundred thousand naira prize money for her efforts.

Speaking at the event, wife of the state Governor, Mrs Bamidele Abiodun appreciated the organisers for creating a platform for women to display their skills.


Mrs Abiodun who was represented by the wife of the Speaker, Ogun state House of Assembly, Mrs Victoria Oluomo expressed optimism that the race would be sustained in the interest of the women in the state.


Also, the Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Dr Oluwadare Kehinde who was excited the with participation of a five year old, Dorris Odeyemi said the race had lived up to its expectations in line with the catch them young policy of the present administration in the state.


Dr Kehinde announced that the state government would nurture the five year old athlete to enable her to represent the state at future competitions.


Dorris Odeyemi, a primary two pupil expressed joy for the gesture.

In a remark, the organiser of “Ogun Women run” Mr Seyi Johnson appreciated the governor for creating the enabling environment for the development of sports in the state.
Over one thousand women participated in the race.

Olusegun Folarin

Sport

Fortune basketball from Ogun state has emerged champions of the maiden edition of the southwest female basketball competition.

The Abeokuta based team defeated Hoopsdream of Oyo state by 24 to 22 points in the final of the competition played at Alake sports centre, Ijeja Abeokuta.

The southwest female basketball competition with the theme “balling to impact” was organised by the women elite sports empowerment initiative to develop, nurture and expose the young female players to competitive games.

Speaking with Radio Nigeria, Ondo State coach, Olajubutu Tosin said the regular staging of competitions across the states of the federation was needed to develop the game at the grassroots level.

Coach Tosin described the tournament as an eye-opener for some of his players and called for more support from other sports enthusiasts in the promotion and development of female basketball in the country.

Also, a female basketball Coach, Adebayo Iyabode explained that the competition was put together to further encourage and empower females through sports

Other coaches who spoke with Radio Nigeria expressed satisfaction with the impressive performance of the participating teams advised the government to support initiatives geared towards sports development especially for females.

Meanwhile, Book and Ball basketball from Osun State defeated the Pacers Basketball team from Ekiti state by 14 to 12 points to settle for the bronze medal.

The high point of the competition was the presentation of medals and trophies to the winner while Olympic gold medalist at the Tokyo Paralympic Games, Lateefat Tijani and her coach were honoured at the event for making Ogun state proud.

The competition attracted teams from Ekiti, Osun, Ondo, Osun and Ogun States.

Segun Folarin