The Invited Junior Athletes, IJA, have set an early marker at their first ever National Sports Festival in Ogun state after denying the Elite Athletes four medals already, by winning two Gold, one silver and one bronze medal within the first two days of the Games.
Amarachi Chijioke and Scholastical Tekumbur made history winning the two gold, one silver and one bronze in the 45kg women category.
Chijioke claimed two gold medals in clean and jerk with the best lift of 82kg while Tekumbur, also claimed the bronze in clean and jerk.
The National Sports Commission, NSC, has continued to receive plenty of accolades for the IJA initiative introduced to the Festival as the 38th State and the early performance of the junior athletes within the first two days of the Games is already justifying the essence of the concept.
The NSC introduced the Invited junior Athletes concept so that Nigeria can start having a unique and scientific transition system between the upcoming junior athletes and the elite athletes.
Director General of the NSC, Hon. Bukola Olopade, maintained that the IJA concept was designed to tie grassroots to elite Sports by bridging the transition gap that has existed in the past.
“ Ninety percent of the kids representing IJA are champions from the youth games and the ones that have upset the staquo by winning these medals have automatically been elevated to elite status and qualify for elite grants that will prepare them for the Olympic Games and Commonwealth Championships next year”.
” Being the first time we are having this concept we never expected them to win medals but just to get exposure by competing with the elite athletes but we can see with the four medals already won that the junior athletes we brought for this Games are really fancying their chances with the big boys”.
Thirty eight junior athletes across different sports are representing the Invited junior Athletes , IJA, at the Gateway Games.
