Anambra State Sports Development Commission Chairman, Patrick-Estate Onyedum, has commended the state contingent to the second Strata Base National Karate Championship held in Bayelsa for their outstanding performance.
Speaking in his office in Awka when he received report on the outing from coach of the team, Godwin Okoro, Onyedum said the Anambra team performance at the competition held at the Samson Sisia Stadium, Yenagoa between April 12 and April 15, showed that the state has comparative advantage in Karate, and expressed desire to take the development of the sport in primary and secondary schools across the state.
According to the report, Anambra emerged overall second best at the competition, with four gold and four silver behind Federal Capital Territory, which garnered five gold, one silver and five bronze.
Anambra won gold through Ujunwa Nwankwo in the sixty-eight-kilogram category, Uchenna Nwonu in the sixty-seven-kilogram category, team Kata female and team Kumite female.
Ngozi Okoro won two silvers in individual kata and fifty kilogram, Emmanuel Ogbuagu won sixty-seven kilograms, while Chinaemerem Chiadikobi completed the medal haul.
On behalf of the Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, the Anambra State Sports Development Commission Chairman, Onyedum, congratulated the team for coming second in a national competition, saying it is not an easy feat.
He urged the coach to work with Anambra Karate Association to work out a template for establishment of clubs in selected primary and secondary schools in the three senatorial districts of the state for physical and mental development of the Anambra child, among other benefits.
Earlier, the coach of the Anambra team, Okoro thanked the Chairman of the Commission for giving the seven-man team the opportunity to participate at the championship, adding that with the necessary support by the government, he is ready to take the sports to Anambra communities.
He said Karate was good for self-defense, discipline of the athletes, as well as high medal winner for state at competitions.
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