NUGA boasts of athletes’ superb performance at World University Games

Bola Orodele, the Secretary, Nigeria University Games Association (NUGA), on Tuesday expressed optimism that athletes selected to represent the country at the World University Games would perform credibly.

The Games are scheduled for July 3 to July 14 in Gwangju, South Korea.

Orodele told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the 99 athletes have been in camp in Ibadan and are in good shape to fly the nation’s flag at the Games.

“The Nigerian contingent to the Games is very ready. We expect that they will prove to the world that there are Nigerians who are known internationally to be good in sports.

“And I believe that from there, the nation will be able to nurture those that have been discovered by NUGA and take them to greater heights,” he said.

On the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) outbreak in South Korea, Orodele said that the contingent would still go ahead to participate.
He noted that the International University Sports Federation (FISU) had assured NUGA that the outbreak was not in Gwangju and that measures have been put in place to protect athletes.

“We have been given assurances that MERS is not in Gwangju; we know that FISU is monitoring to ensure that that participants are safe.

“I was in Gwangju in April, and when I returned, questions were asked about the outbreak.

“So, we believe since the world is moving there, everything possible will be done to ensure it doesn’t get to the venue,’’ he said.
Nigeria will feature in five sports namely, Athletics, Taekwondo, Judo, Badminton and Table-tennis at the Games.

A total of 18 athletes in athletics, 12 badminton players, 24 Judokas, 38 Taekwondoists and seven table-tennis players will be featured at the games.