Nigerian Army (NA) Athletes have won the 42 Kilometres Marathon race at the Armed Forces Inter Service Competition which commenced Sunday in Abuja.
The NA emerged champions in individual male and female as well as the team categories which began in Deidei, Zuba and ended at the Aguiyi Ironsi Sports Complex in Asokoro, Abuja.
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This is contained in a statement by the Director Defence Information, Major General Benjamin Olufemi Sawyerr on Sunday.
The Armed Forces Inter Service Competition which comprises of marathon race, football and golf is to select sport men and women in the Armed forces of Nigeria (AFN) that will represent Nigeria in the Sahel Military Games scheduled for 9 to 17 October 2021.
In the male category, Private Okot Friday of the NA clinched the first position in 1hour, 52minutes, 1second, while Privates Nuhu Mohammed and Husamatus of the NA won the second and third position with 1hour, 52minutes, 17 seconds and 1hour, 52minutes, 40seconds respectively.
Private Badmus Mutiyat also of the NA won the first position in the female category in 2hours, 21minutes, 11seconds, while Privates Inah Catherine and Adewale Hannah came 2nd and 3rd positions in 2hours, 50minutes and 2hours, 37munites respectively.
While the NA emerged first positions in the male and female team categories, the Nigerian Air Force and the Nigerian Navy came second and third in male and female categories.
Speaking at the event, the acting Director of Sport, Defence Headquarters (DHQ), Commodore Patrick Iyekwe commended the athletes for their outstanding performance which he described as “beyond average.”
The acting Director of Sport noted that with more training the athletes would be able to improve on their performance at the Sahel Military Game.
Cdre Iyekwe said out of the 60 athletes that took part in the marathon championship, the first 20 best athletes would be selected and camped for about 3 weeks in preparation for the Sahel Military Games, while noting that the Inter-Service Competition would also witness the selection of players who will represent the AFN in the game of football and golf.
The President, Organization of Military Sport in Africa (OSMA), Brigadier General Maikano Abdullahi disclosed that 12 African countries, including Nigeria have registered for the all important military sporting events tagged “Peace and Solidarity.”
Brig Gen Abduallahi who doubles as the International Military Sports Council (CISM), Vice President, added that sport which is part and parcel of non-kinetic operations used by armed forces in conflict resolutions.
Brig Gen Abdullahi while commenting on the level of preparedness by the AFN in hosting the games, noted that the Chief of Defence Staff General Lucky Irabor who is also the Grand Patron of OSMA and the Service Chiefs as well as relevant stakeholders have thrown their weights towards hosting of the first ever Sahel Military Games in Nigeria.
