11 States, 8 Clubs Set for 1st Governor Alex Otti National Senior Judo Championship in Umuahia
Host state, Abia, will welcome teams from Bayelsa, Ogun, Edo, Delta, Benue, Kano, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Enugu, Osun and Kwara states, as well as eight clubs from across the
Eleven states and eight clubs are set to convene in Umuahia, Abia, for the inaugural Governor Alex Otti National Senior Judo Championship. Organized by the Nigeria Judo Federation (NJF) in partnership with the Abia State Government, the four-day event will take place at the Umuahia Township Stadium from November 2 to November 5.
The championship will feature 14 weight categories, with the top three athletes in each category earning prize money of ₦250,000, ₦150,000, and ₦100,000 respectively. The tournament aims to revitalize judo in Nigeria, according to the NJF's Acting Technical Director, Sule Musa. He emphasized that the competition represents much more than a contest for medals, serving as a unifying force for athletes, officials, and stakeholders dedicated to rejuvenating the sport.
Musa highlighted that the championship will not only provide opportunities for athletes to compete for medals but also serve as a platform for discovering new talent, developing athletes, and fostering unity within the sport. The event has received endorsement from former African Games champion and Olympian Katherine Ewa, who praised it as a significant boost for athletes and the advancement of judo in Nigeria.
Weigh-ins for the men's -60kg, -66kg, and -100kg categories, as well as the women's -48kg, -52kg, -57kg, and -78kg divisions, concluded on Sunday. Musa expressed satisfaction with the participants' turnout and expressed optimism about the championship's impact on the future of Nigerian judo. He commended Governor Alex Otti for his commitment to supporting judo development, noting that his sustained efforts demonstrate a genuine passion for sports development.
Musa anticipates that the championship will rekindle interest in judo across the country, offering opportunities for talent discovery, athlete development, and enhanced unity within the sport as the country's top athletes utilize the event as a platform to relaunch their careers and improve their global rankings.
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