The minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh has assured the victorious TIG Gymnasts that represented Nigeria at the just concluded World Gymnasts Championship in Malta of adequate support in future competitions even as he congratulates the athletes for their wonderful performance at the age grade championship.
The TIG athletes won a total of 23 medals with the age bracket of 7-12 years.
The TIG athletes are the first set of victorious team that the newly sworn in Sports Minister will receive barely two days after assuming office.
While welcoming the athletes to the country at the MKO National Stadium, Abuja, Thursday morning, the minister said ‘their performances gladdens is heart for their heroics feat’
“I will like to congratulate you on behalf of our President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. I sincerely recognize your tremendous contributions though it has its own implications due to the fact that your organization is a private one.
“We need to develop younger athletes to replace the ageing one. It gladdens my heart to see what you’re doing to represent the country and bring honour to the nation.I’m very proud of this young athletes. I hope we can keep them have podium finish in Olympics and other engagements”
The minister stressed the importance of sports as a unifying factor while calling for all hands to be on deck to develop the sector in line with international best practices.
Once again, the new minister reiterated that “there is no other endeavour in this country that is as uniting as the sports endeavour.
“In spite of our diversity, the difficulties, the differences, and the conflicts, I think Nigerians always unite as one whenever there is a sporting event,” he said.
Speaking earlier, the president of TIG, Tony Asuquo, disclosed that his organisation is in the forefront of providing athletes for Team Nigeria and that going to the world championship in Malta is their first effort venturing into Europe.
He introduced the seven athletes who won the 23 medals with their age range of 7-12 years to the sports minister while disclosing that their trip were self sponsored by the athletes parents and goodwill from well meaning Nigerians to the body.
Courtesy:BluePrint
