The Flag Officer Commanding, Naval Training Command, Rear Admiral Azubuike Ajonu says Nigeria is good enough to win gold at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games given the talents that are at the disposal of the country. His assertion came on the heels of the performances he witnessed at the Navy Sailing Club last Saturday.
Ajonu, who is the sponsor of the race as his way of helping the Nigeria Rowing, Canoeing and Sailing Federation discover young talents that can be trained into Olympic stars in good time for the Rio 2016 Games said his views were based on what he saw of the athletes that participated in the race held at the Navy Sailing Club situated in Navy Town, Ojo.
“The race is a continuous training exercise by the Nigerian Navy in order to see the athletes in competitive mood. It is the wish of the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ezeoba to see Nigeria win medals in the water sport come next Olympic Games. With the headquarters of the NRCSF situated in Navy Town, it’s our duty to see that the athletes are always in training through constant competitions.”
To ensure that the event remains one that the athletes will always look forward to, Rear Admiral Ajonu says it is his wish to make his race an annual event as time and training of the Naval Training Command permits.
The race which had large turnout of sailors saw Stephen Kaniko, Michael Oshinowo and Daniel Yakwe finishing tops in the boys kayak race while Rakaya, Momoh, Chika Amaechi and Joy Momoh proved to be the better of the lot in the girls’ category.