Winners and participants in the 2021 Nanka Marathon race which attracted over two hundred youths of the community, both male and female categories received various cash prizes and gifts items as part of encouragement and empowerment.

Correspondent Emmanuel Chigbata reports that Nanka Marathon race is a sporting activity initiated in 2019 by Nanka Youths in the Diaspora whose vision is to encourage emerging and hidden sport talents and promote a fitness regimen which is beneficial to mental and physical wellbeing of the teeming youths of Nanka.

The third edition of the race kicked off at the Austica field Ifite Nanka, through Ekwulobia and Oko round about, back to Austica field to Afor Nanka, and terminated at Neros Sports Stadium Nanka.

At the end of the Marathon race, Mr Ifeanyi Okeke of Agbiligba village Nanka who won in 2019 and 2020 edition emerged the winner in 2021 edition of the male category, while a seventeen-year-old Miss Oluebube Okoli from Enugwu village Nanka came first in the female category.

They received One hundred Thousand Naira each, with an additional Five Hundred Thousand Naira given to Miss Okoli by a philanthropist from the community.

The second position took eighty thousand naira each, while the third position went home with sixty thousand naira each both in male and female categories.

Other participants received various consolation prizes from the organizers of the annual event.

In his opening speech, the Chief Organizing Committee of the 2021 Nanka Marathon race, Mr. Obinna Nwosu noted that Nanka is known for sports and has remained committed to improving sports development and athletes welfare in the community.

Mr. Nwosu appreciated Nanka Youths in the Diaspora for promoting sports in the community, stating that the winning prizes are to encourage more athletes to participate and feel satisfied with their efforts during the racecourse.

 

In  various interviews, some sponsors of the programme, Mr. Ifeanyichukwu Ofokaja, Ifeanyichukwu Onuorah and one of the coordinators of the 2021 Nanka Marathon race, Mr. Akonam Obiefuna, noted that the 2021 exercise took a giant step, as plans are on towards making the event stronger and encouraged the young athletes to always keep fit as they would be recognized someday at the global level.

Mr. Ifeanyi Okeke and Miss Oluebube Okoli who came first in both male and female categories, expressed happiness and appreciated the sponsors for encouraging them.

The event featured other sporting activities, including lawn tennis and football competition between Nanka All Stars and Nkpor Veterans Football Club.