Mar 06, 2024 - 03:31
By guardian.ng

Oyeleke to develop archery, produce athletes for 2028 Olympics

Founder of Zen Archery and Captain of Team Nigeria Archery, Emmanuel Oyeleke, has pledged to develop the sport at the grassroots and produce archers that would compete for the country at the Olympics and other international championships.

Oyeleke described the sport as a world-recognised event, adding that it was unfortunate that some top sports officials are unaware of its existence.

The Malaysia 2009 World Archery Championship star, said the sport has been in Nigeria since 1994, but has never been featured in the National Sports Festival due to ‘undue’ focus on football.

The national champion pledged that his team would focus on grassroots development to produce international archers for the country if elected, adding that archery is a game that requires a lot of focus and dedication.

He noted that India has produced over six archers in the world ranking in the space of over five years, saying that if the Asian country could achieve that feat, Nigeria could do better, adding that his administration would also focus on getting Archery into the sports festival.

On the forthcoming Lagos Open Archery Championship, which will hold on March 9 and 10 at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Oyeleke said the tournament has received large entries, with the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) having the highest number of archers, followed by female participants, whose number, he said, is far more than their male counterparts.

He said the competition will also feature a junior category for people U-16 archers, noting that it would give the youngsters the opportunity to develop from a young age.