Abia State will welcome teams from Bayelsa, Ogun, Edo, Delta, Benue, Kano, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Enugu, Osun and Kwara States, as well as eight clubs from across the country to the First Governor Alex Otti National Senior Judo Championship, which begins today in Umuahia.
The four-day championship, organised by the Nigeria Judo Federation (NJF) in collaboration with the Abia State Government, will hold at the Umuahia Township Stadium from today to November 5.
A total of 14 weight categories will be contested, with the top three athletes in each category receiving prize money of N250,000, N150,000 and N100,000 respectively. The tournament is also expected to serve as a platform for reviving the fortunes of judo across Nigeria.
According to the Acting Technical Director of the NJF, Sule Musa, the competition represents more than a contest for medals, as it will serve as a rallying point for athletes, officials and stakeholders committed to rebuilding the sport.
The athletes will compete in seven weight categories each in the men’s and women’s divisions. The men’s events are -60kg, -66kg, -73kg, -81kg, -90kg, -100kg and +100kg, while the women’s categories are -48kg, -52kg, -57kg, -63kg, -70kg, -78kg and +78kg.
The tournament has received endorsement from former African Games champion and Olympian Katherine Ewa, who described it as a major boost for athletes and the development of judo in Nigeria.
The weigh-in for competitors in the men’s -60kg, -66kg and -100kg categories, as well as the women’s -48kg, -52kg, -57kg and -78kg divisions, was concluded yesterday ahead of the start of competition.
Musa expressed satisfaction with the turnout and optimism about the championship’s impact on the future of Nigerian judo.
“We are excited about the turnout and hopeful that the championship will help us discover a new generation of judokas who can represent Nigeria at major continental and international competitions while improving their global rankings,” Musa said.
“I must commend the Governor of Abia State for his commitment to supporting the development of judo. His willingness to sustain and build on previous efforts demonstrates his passion for sports development. We cannot wait for the competition to begin, as many of the country’s top athletes are looking forward to using this championship as a platform to relaunch their careers and return to prominence.”
