At the 22nd National Sports Festival in Ogun State, Invited Junior Athletes (IJA) made a strong impression by outperforming elite contenders in the women’s 45kg weightlifting event.
Amarachi Chijioke clinched two gold medals in clean and jerk and total haul with lifts of 82kg and 146kg, respectively, while Scholastical Tekumbur secured a bronze with a 78kg clean and jerk. Christina Allorima of Rivers State claimed silver, and Lagos State’s Ronke Olarinoye won gold in the snatch category with a 65kg lift.
The IJA initiative, introduced by the National Sports Commission, includes over 100 teenage athletes from across Nigeria competing in nine sports, including weightlifting, wrestling, and athletics. The program aims to bridge the gap between youth and elite sports levels, giving promising young athletes an opportunity to develop through high-level competition.
According to NSC Director General Bukola Olopade, the IJA program identifies youth champions and gives them a platform to challenge and grow alongside top-tier athletes. Chijioke and Tekumbur’s performances are early proof of the program’s success, with their medal-winning efforts standing out on the festival’s opening competitive day across venues in Sagamu, Ikenne, and Abeokuta.
