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January 26, 2023.
Azonuchechi Chukwu.
Fiaku Ezechukwuchiri, 16 years old, from Anambra has emerged champion of the High Jump event at the just-concluded National School Sports Festival (NSSF) World School Athletics trials in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Ezechukwuchiri is an SS3 student of Ide Secondary School, Enugu-Ukwu in Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra.
Johnny Igboka, Head Coach of Anambra Athletics team, said Ezechukwuchiri lept a height of 2:07 metres in the U-18 category of the trials.
Igboka said Peace Eze, another budding athlete from Anambra, came second in the U-18 Javelin event while Ekene Nwabueze finished fourth in the U-15 1500 metres event.
He said with the performance, Ezechukwuchiri had won a place in the Nigerian National Team to World School Athletics Championship later in the year.
Igboka thanked the Anambra Sports Development Commission, under the chairmanship of Patrick-Estate Onyedum, for giving the students the opportunity to participate at the trial.
He said it was gladdening that Onyedum had decided to revamp School Sports, which had been moribund in Anambra for years, adding that grassroots sports remained critical to the success of the sector.
In his reaction, Onyedum said Anambra was blessed with talented athletes and that the commission under his watch, would support them by providing platforms to showcase their talents.
He said he had personally ensured the state took part at the trials, noting that the success story of Ezechukwuchiri was a pleasant feedback to him.
According to him, “we want to transform sports and the starting point is grassroots development and revival of school sports.
“That is why I ensured that the three selected athletes go to Ogun State and compete for space; his qualification at the World School Trials is a welcome development; it is a sign of what is to come under the government of Prof. Chukwuma Soludo,” he said.(www.naija247news.com)
