How Okpuakpo, Tonjor, Iworo, Collins beat over 300 other contenders to emerge the best swimmers at the 7th Chief of Naval Staff Open News

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How Okpuakpo, Tonjor, Iworo, Collins beat over 300 other contenders to emerge the best swimmers at the 7th Chief of Naval Staff Open

By Maduabuchi Kalu, Lagos on October 5, 2016

The 7th edition of the annual Chief of Naval Staff Open Swimming Championship may have come and gone with its thrills and frills that accompanied it but the championship will not be forgotten in a hurry by some swimmers, particularly those who made headlines as best in their different categories.

Of more than 300 swimmers that gathered from different states of the Federation, institutions like the Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Navy, Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), etc, and clubs, such as the University of Ibadan, Obafemi Awolowo University Ife, etc. the four swimmer were declared best owing to their outstanding performances during the four day swimming championship that held in Lagos.

Just as it had earlier been reported, this year’s edition of the flagship swimming tournament in the calendar of the Nigeria Aquatics Federation, the championship was divided into two categories following the introduction of the junior category.

In the elite category, it was made of the male and female categories. In male and female categories, it was not surprising when at the end of the championship that the Delta State born swimmer, Samson Okpuakpo, who took part at the recently concluded Rio Olympic Games in Brazil was declared best swimmer of the tournament. It was not surprising to the followers of the aquatics sport as he has continued to emerge best swimmer since the return CNS in 2010 in Kaduna.

In the female category, it was also an Olympian, Rachael Tonjor who emerged best female swimmer as her arch rival Ifiesigbe Gagbe did not come for the championship though the younger sister who participated was no match to the experienced Tonjor.

In the junior category which was introduced in this year’s edition to discover and nurture young swimmer who would take over from the elite swimmers who are already looking forward to retire from active service to fatherland.

In the male junior category it was Obi Collins who emerged the best swimmer of the 7th edition of the annual Chief Naval Staff Open Swimming Championship while Dorcas Otah Iworo emerged the best female swimmer of the championship. All the four swimmesr were rewarded with cash prizes and trophies even as they express gratitude to the Nigerian Navy and the Nigeria Aquatics Federation for the opportunity provided them to exhibit their swimming skills.

•Photo shows Rachael Tonjor in action.

Source Daily Sports

Posted October 5, 2016