One of Nigeria’s top female judokas will be missing in action during the National Senior Open Judo Championship.
Esther Augustine who proved her mettle at the just concluded 20th National Sports Festival in Edo State by picking gold in the -70 kg category won’t be participating at the tournament holding in Ibadan, Oyo State this week.
No thanks to a nagging toothache.
Esther who would have been the star attraction in Ibadan told judoblitzng.com that she would be a spectator because of a troubling toothache.
According to her, “I will be in Ibadan but just as a spectator. I can’t participate with my toothache which has been giving me a lot of pain”.
The All Africa Games silver medalist expressed disappointment at the development.
After relaunching her flagging judo career with a golden performance at the Sports Festival, Esther said she was determined to repeat the feat in Ibadan.
Upon return from Benin City, Esther without a break resumed training to prove that her gold medal in the festival was not a fluke.
Team Lagos Fired Up To Reclaim Lost Glory At National Open Judo Tourney In Ibadan
Unfortunately, when she was putting finishing touches to her training, Esther who should have flown the flag of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Ibadan developed the toothache.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Judo Federation,NJF has appointed two veteran coaches, Edokpolor Ihaza and Bashir Musa as the resource persons to conduct the two-day seminar that would precede the championship sponsored by the Oshodi Judo Foundation. and sanctioned by Nigeria Judo Federation (NJF).
The seminar is meant for coaches, referees, and elite judokas.
Over 250 judokas from 36 states of the federation, Abuja, the military and the para-military will tango in the five day mandatory championship.
Discussion about this post