NIGERIA – Team Nigeria has been announced for the 29th Summer Universiade in Chinese Taipei from 19 to 30 August. After so many years of absence the Nigerian delegation will be looking to build on its presence at the 28th edition in Gwangju two years ago.
Table Tennis player Tosin Ester Oribamise, a 2nd year student of Human Kinetics and Health Science at Ekiti State University
With a delegation of 106 athletes, coaches and officials, Nigerians will be participating in seven sports, tennis, athletics, judo, taekwondo, badminton, tennis and swimming. The team will be looking to improve on what has so far been a good year for university sports in the country. Most prominently would be Aniekeme Alphonus Etim, a 2nd year student from the University of Port Harcourt Rivers State Nigeria. She won her first 100m senior title in July at the All Nigeria Track and Field championship. She was part of a star studded Nigerian relay team that won gold at the Delta CCA Relays. “The ambition is to keep getting better and the World University Games is another opportunity to show my national coaches what I can do. And If I get a medal along the way that would be wonderful”, Aniekeme Alphonsus Etim commented.
Another athlete who is ready to be counted amongst ones for the future is Tosin Ester Oribamise, a 2nd year student of Human Kinetics and Health Science at Ekiti State University, Ekiti State Nigeria. Tosin is a Table Tennis player whose portfolio has risen immensely in the last twelve months. Having qualified for the 2018 Youth Olympic Games, she aims to add more medals to the Nigerian University Games Gold, and the ITTF Africa Youth Olympic qualifiers tournament gold already in her possession this year. Tosin Esther Oribamise, who is on scholarship at the Ekiti State University believes that the Universiade will be a statement ground for her. “I feel ready and I believe in taking my chances and this is definitely one of them, I hope to return with a medal a first for the country at the games in table tennis.” She will be with doubles partner Ojomu Ajoke.
Team Nigeria will be presenting swimmers for the first time and though it is not its strongest competition, the NUGA president believes the team is ready to express themselves. “The selected athletes are the best from the last NUGA games and we are looking to become not just competitors but winners.”
Chidiebere Ezeani, NGR U-Media Reporter