Vice President of the Nigeria Archery Federation, Ambassador Augustine Chigbolu, has lauded the resilience, teamwork and administrative discipline that defined the 2026 National Open Archery Championship, describing the event as a turning point for the sport’s growth in Nigeria. Speaking at the close of the weeklong tournament in Abuja, Chigbolu said the emergence of Zen Archery Club and the Lagos State Archery Association as overall champions underscored the rewards of consistency and preparation, after the team clinched six gold, two silver and two bronze medals to lift the trophy. The championship, organised by the Nigeria Archery Federation, featured over 150 athletes and officials from nine clubs and was held at Package ‘B’ of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium. Chigbolu, who also chaired the Marketing and Sponsorship Committee, praised the level of competition, noting that strong performances by the Nigeria Army Archery Club and Arch Archery Club, who finished second and third respectively, reflected the increasing competitiveness of archery in the country. He paid glowing tribute to the federation’s administrative team, particularly Secretary General Mr. Ayo Philips and Deputy Secretary General Hon. Goodman Akwu, for what he described as their “round-the-clock commitment” to ensuring a hitch-free championship. Despite battling malaria during the competition, the Vice President continued to oversee key responsibilities, a move widely seen as symbolic of the dedication required to reposition Nigerian archery on the global stage. Also speaking, President of the Nigeria Archery Federation, His Royal Highness Mohammed Abdullahi, commended participating teams and technical officials for their professionalism and discipline throughout the tournament. He reaffirmed the federation’s commitment to developing the sport, stressing that sustained collaboration among stakeholders would be critical to taking Nigerian archery to greater heights. Abdullahi noted that the championship also served as a ranking event and a platform to select athletes for major international outings, including the forthcoming African Archery Championship in Algeria. He further appreciated the efforts of the media committee for the extensive coverage of the event, assuring that their contributions had not gone unnoticed. Both federation leaders charged athletes to maintain the high standards displayed during the championship, as Nigeria intensifies preparations for continental and global competitions.
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